PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University softball team will host the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos and Newman University Jets this weekend at the Pittsburg State Softball Field.
 
First pitch against UCO is set for 2:00 p.m. (CDT) on Friday (Apr. 24). Saturday (Apr. 25) will serve as Senior Day for the Gorillas, with a pregame ceremony set ahead of a Noon first pitch against NU.
 
Last weekend at home, Pitt State claimed sweeps over Northeastern State University and the University of Central Missouri to improve to 43-2 on the season and 15-1 in the MIAA. Heading into the final eight games of the regular season the Gorillas have a three game lead over second in the league standings.
 
This season as a team, the Gorillas are hitting .394 with 404 runs scored (9.0), 497 hits (11.0), 208 walks drawn (4.6), 95 doubles, 15 triples and 40 home runs for a .588 slugging and .479 on base percentage. In the circle, Pitt State owns a 2.36 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and .226 opponent batting average while striking out 245 hitters (5.4).
 
Heather Arnett (.557) so far this season has accumulated 98 hits, scored 71 runs with 38 stolen bases, 12 doubles, seven triples and 38 RBI. Kadyn Trochim (.473) leads the team with 64 runs driven in from 62 hits, 17 being doubles, scoring 38 runs and drawing 32 walks for a team-high .577 on base percentage. Alleyna Rushing (.442) is second on the team with 51 runs scored and 16 stolen bases while collecting 61 hits and 23 runs driven in. Lexi Davis (.403) is second on the team with eight home runs and 61 runs driven in while having 54 total hits, 41 runs scored, 14 doubles and 11 runners caught stealing. Sailor Hall (.362) leads the team with 10 home runs, with 51 total hits, 16 being doubles, scoring 45 runs and also being a capable pitcher. Haili Igou (.328) this season has accumulated 40 hits, 12 being doubles, six home runs for 34 RBI, scoring 41 runs herself and stealing seven bases in as many attempts. Kyleigh Lamont (.316) is the final qualified hitter batting above .300 entering the weekend, Lamont this season has driven in 41 runs with six home runs. Rachael Schlotter (.298) has accumulated 28 hits, 28 RBI, 29 runs scored and 26 walks drawn this season so far.
 
Emma Crabb (14-1, 1.76 ERA, 0.95 WHIP) leads the team with 91.2 innings of work, 81 strikeouts and a .195 opponent batting average. Lexi Franklin (12-0, 2.75 ERA, 1.36 WHIP) in 89.0 innings has struck out 65 hitters while allowing opponents to hit .253 against her. Ava Laurent (9-1, 2.59 ERA, 1.20 WHIP) in 56.2 innings has struck out 52 batters while holding opponents to a .201 average. Hall (8-0, 2.28 ERA, 1.19 WHIP) in 43.0 innings has struck out 42 while holding a .269 opponent batting average.
 
All-time against Central Oklahoma, the Bronchos have a 27-22 advantage against Pittsburg State dating back to 1983. In the last 10 games, UCO is 6-4 but in the last 10 overall games both teams have claimed five victories. Overall in Pittsburg, the two teams have both claimed nine wins with the Gorillas 6-4 in the last 10 games played at the Pittsburg State Softball Field.
 
Central Oklahoma will enter the weekend with a 37-10 overall record and 14-4 in the MIAA to sit in a tie with Missouri Southern for second in the league standings. Last weekend the Bronchos put up a 55-19 advantage on the scoreboard against Nebraska – Kearney and Fort Hays State on the road.
 
As a team, UCO is hitting .363 with 348 runs scored (7.4), 457 hits (9.7), drawing 179 walks (3.8) with 105 doubles, 15 triples and 44 home runs for a .575 slugging percentage and .449 on base percentage. In the circle, the Bronchos own a 2.83 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and .231 opponent batting average while striking out 282 hitters (6.0).
 
All nine qualified hitters are hitting above .300 this season with four hitting at or above .400. Brooklyn Ryan (.408) leads the team with 64 hits and 17 stolen bases, adding in 48 runs scored, 12 doubles and 28 RBI. Haley Gallo (.403) leads the team with 11 home runs and 58 runs driven in to go with 58 total hits, 42 runs scored and 17 doubles. Rylee Lemos (.400) is the team leader with 52 runs scored and six triples to go with nine home runs, 15 doubles, 57 RBI and 11 stolen bases. Jenna Jobe (.400) leads the team with 19 doubles from 52 total hits, scoring 19 runs and driving in 26. Brooklyn Lyles (.365), Sherri Mason (.348), Hannah Demoff (.344), Kennedy Clark (.331) and Rylee Anglen (.330) round out the qualified hitters for UCO. In the circle, Carleigh Kinnaird (15-3, 2.66 ERA, 1.22 WHIP) leads the team with 123.2 innings of work and 141 strikeouts as opponents are hitting .199 against her. Shelby Beard (18-5, 3.01 ERA, 1.35 WHIP) in 123.1 innings has struck out 105 batters while owning a .243 opponent batting average. Madison Hamilton (3-2, 2.54 ERA, 1.31 WHIP) is the most used reliever this season so far with 41.1 innings, striking out 31 opponents while allowing a 243 against them.
 
Against Newman, Pittsburg State is 42-9 in a series that goes back to 1995. Against the Jets, Pitt State are 9-1 in the last 10 games and overall in Pittsburg a 21-5 advantage.
 
Newman is set to begin the weekend with a 10-36 overall record, 4-14 in the MIAA. On Tuesday (Apr. 21) the Jets split on the road against Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Last weekend, Newman split against Fort Hays State and Nebraska – Kearney on the road.
 
As a team, NU is hitting .263 with 165 runs scored (3.6) and 311 hits (6.8). In the circle, the Jets own a 7.29 ERA, 2.11 WHIP and a .351 opponent batting average with 158 walks (2.5) and 86 strikeouts (1.9).
 
AJ Borja (.364) leads the team in batting average while coming away with 43 hits, 10 being doubles and three home runs for 19 RBI and 19 runs scored. Malie Noda (.307) leads the team with 21 RBI on the season with 11 doubles from 43 hits, with three home runs and 24 runs scored. Lauren McNaught (.301) is the other qualified hitter batting above .300 this season and leads the team with eight stolen bases in as many attempts. In the circle, Katelyn Westover (3-9, 5.93 ERA, 1.84 WHIP) in a team-high 74.1 innings has struck out 17 batters while issuing out 41 walks as opponents are hitting .316 against her. Taylor Palmer (2-11, 8.24 ERA, 2.30 WHIP) in 71.1 innings has issued 32 walks with 24 strikeouts and a .382 opponent batting average. Kinyon DeCorte (3-8, 5.79 ERA, 1.90 WHIP) in 65.1 innings of work has struck out a team-high 26 hitters while issuing 25 walks and limiting opponents to a .355 average. Makenna Majors (0-6, 8.40 ERA, 2.26 WHIP) in 58.1 innings has struck out seven hitters this season while issuing out a team-high 44 walks and allowing opponents to hit .336 against her.