PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University softball team is set to return home to host the Rogers State University Hillcats on Friday (Apr. 3) at the Pittsburg State Softball Field in a conference doubleheader.
 
First pitch against RSU is set for 1:00 p.m. (CDT) with the second game of the twinbill set to begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
 
Last weekend, Pitt State claimed a pair of road sweeps against the Emporia State University Hornets and Washburn University Ichabods. In MIAA play this season, the Gorillas are the only team still undefeated (8-0) with a two-game lead over the nearest competitor in the league standings.
 
For the season, the Gorilas are 34-1 to be ranked No. 4 in the latest NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll (Mar. 31), tied for the highest the team has ever been ranked in the NFCA poll.
 
Recently named onto the NFCA Central Region Player of the Year Watchlist, Heather Arnett is hitting .572 with 79 hits, 55 runs scored, 35 RBI, 29 stolen bases, 11 doubles and five triples. Also named onto the watchlist was Kadyn Trochim (.459) who leads the team with 52 runs driven in from 45 hits, scoring 31 runs herself while collecting 27 walks and 14 doubles. Alleyna Rushing (.421) has accumulated 48 hits, scored 42 runs, driven in 19 runs and swiped 14 bases. Sailor Hall (.390) leads the team with eight home runs to go with 41 hits, 34 runs scored, 15 doubles and 12 walks drawn. Lexi Davis (.390) is second on the team with 48 RBI and five home runs to go with 41 hits and 32 runs scored. Rachael Schlotter (.338) is the final qualified hitter batting above .300 this season so far, adding 25 runs, 24 hits, 24 RBI and 20 walks drawn. As a team, Pitt State has a .393 average, 324 runs scored (9.3) and 385 hits (11.0) for a .582 slugging and .483 on base percentage.
 
In the circle, Emma Crabb (12-0, 1.51 ERA, 0.88 WHIP) leads the team with 69.2 innings of work and 65 strikeouts to go with a .183 opponent batting average. Lexi Franklin (9-0, 2.33 ERA, 1.29 WHIP) in 63.0 innings of work has struck out 48 and is limiting opponents to a .238 average. Ava Laurent (8-1, 2.66 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) has struck out 48 hitters in 52.2 innings of work while limiting opponents to a .200 average. Hall (5-0, 1.63 ERA, 1.20 WHIP) in the circle has pitched 30.0 innings with 30 strikeouts and a .274 opponent batting average.
 
All-time against Rogers State, the Hillcats own a 15-12 advantage in the series that includes being 6-4 in the last 10 meetings. In Pittsburg the Gorillas are 6-4 with the last games being played between the two teams at the Pittsburg State Softball Field coming in 2023.
 
Rogers State enters the weekend with a 24-10 overall record, going 8-4 in the MIAA so far. On the road, RSU is 1-3 with the lone win coming against Washburn (Mar. 14) in the second game of a doubleheader.
 
In the circle, Rogers State is led by the dynamic duo of Harley Culie (12-6, 2.05 ERA, 1.11 WHIP) and Kinsley Hill (9-1, 1.24 ERA, 0.99 WHIP). Culie this season in 119.1 innings of work has struck out 120 batters with 38 walks issued and a .215 opponent batting average. Hill has claimed the last two MIAA Pitcher of the Week honors and claimed four straight shutouts. This season the Dale, Okla., native in 62.1 innings has struck out 42 while walking 27 and holding opponents to a .161 average. Erica Ross (2-2, 2.85 ERA, 1.22 WHIP) is the other pitcher for RSU and in 39.1 innings of work has recorded a team-high four saves to go with a .242 opponent batting average.
 
Jaden Jordan leads the team with a .398 average, 37 hits and six home runs to go with collecting seven doubles and 21 runs driven in. Baylee King (.311) has scored a team-high 20 runs this season with 28 hits and eight stolen bases while being walked 13 times. Raylin Morgan (.310) is the other qualified hitter batting above .300 with 31 hits, 14 runs scored a team-high 10 doubles to go with 25 RBI and five home runs. As a team, RSU is hitting .276 with 145 runs (4.3) and 242 hits (7.1) while possessing a .392 slugging and .352 on base percentage.