PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University softball team is set to begin the last week of the regular season with a pair of conference doubleheaders against Missouri Western State University and Missouri Southern State University.
 
Pitt State is set to begin the week on the road at St. Joseph, Mo., in a makeup game against Missouri Western on Tuesday (Apr. 28). First pitch from the Griffon Softball Field is set for 4:00 p.m. (CDT). To end the regular season on Saturday (May 2), the Gorillas will host Missouri Southern at the Pittsburg State Softball Field with a twin bill set to begin at 1:00 p.m. (CDT).
 
Ranked No. 2 in the latest NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll (Apr. 21) the Gorillas will enter the week with a 45-4 overall record, 17-3 in the MIAA to have a one game lead atop the league standings.
 
As a team, Pittsburg State is hitting .391 with 431 runs scored (8.8), 537 hits (11.0), 103 doubles (2.1), 45 home runs (0.9), while drawing 227 walks (4.6) for a .477 on base and a .588 slugging percentage (1.065 OPS). As a pitching staff, the Gorillas have a 2.49 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and .226 opponent average while striking out 259 hitters (5.3).
 
Heather Arnett (.539) leads the team and Division II with 103 hits and 75 runs scored to go with 39 RBI, 38 stolen bases and 13 doubles. Kadyn Trochim (.469) leads the team and the MIAA with 70 runs batted in to go with 68 hits, 18 being doubles and five home runs. Alleyna Rushing (.438) has amassed 63 hits, 53 runs scored and 16 stolen bases this season. Lexi Davis (.407) is tied for the team lead with 10 home runs and is second among program ranks this year with 69 RBI. Sailor Hall (.361) is tied for the team lead with 10 home runs and is third on the team with 46 runs scored. Haili Igou (.328) leads the team with 35 walks drawn while having 44 runs scored, 44 hits and 39 RBI. Rachael Schlotter (.327) has scored 35 runs while coming away with 34 hits, drawing 29 walks and driving in 28 runs. Kyleigh Lamont (.315) is the final qualified hitter batting above .300 this season and has hit six home runs and driven in 45 runs.
 
Emma Crabb (15-2, 1.81 ERA, 0.90 WHIP) is coming off pitching the second perfect game in program history last time out, this season in 104.2 innings has struck out 92 hitters and is limiting opponents to a .183 average. Lexi Franklin (13-1, 3.09 ERA, 1.43 WHIP) in 99.2 innings of work is limiting opponents to a .260 average and has struck out 66 hitters. Ava Laurent (9-1, 2.68 ERA, 1.22 WHIP) in 60.0 innings has struck out 54 batters while holding opponents to a .210 average. Hall (8-0, 2.28 ERA, 1.19 WHIP) in 43.0 innings of work has struck out 42 batters and is holding opponents to a .269 average.
 
All-time against Missouri Western, the Gorillas have a 55-52 advantage in the series that dates back to 1977. In St. Joseph, the Griffons are 17-12 against PSU but in the last 10 games overall the Gorillas are 7-3 against MWSU.
 
Entering the week, Missouri Western is 28-17 overall and 7-13 in the MIAA to be 10^th in the league standings and at home this season, MWSU is 9-5.
 
As a team the Griffons are hitting .282 with 264 runs scored (5.9), 339 hits (7.5) and has drawn 176 walks (3.9) for a .379 on base and .443 slugging percentage. As a pitching staff, the Griffons have a 3.33 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and .265 opponent average while striking out 243 hitters (5.4).
 
Ashlyn Finarty (.344) leads the team with 13 home runs and 36 RBI on the season, adding in 44 total hits and 27 runs scored. Kalee Higdon (.342) is the team leader for hits (51), runs scored (34) and stolen bases (27). Ayva McComas (.319) is the other qualified hitter batting above .300 this season. Torie Sandoval (8-6, 3.18 ERA, 1.42 WHIP) in 94.2 innings has struck out 65 hitters while limiting opponents to a .273 average. Hatley Pruetting (12-4, 2.71 ERA, 1.45 WHIP) in 90.1 innings is limiting opponents to a .247 average while striking out 102. Finarty in the circle is 5-4 (3.80 ERA, 1.52 WHIP) in 15 starts for 66.1 innings of work, striking out 45 and holding opponents to a 268 average.
 
In a series that goes back to 1975, Pittsburg State holds a 91-89-1 advantage in the series against Missouri Southern. For games played in Pittsburg, the Gorillas hold a 45-32-1 edge but in the last 10 overall games the Lions have an 8-2 record.
 
Heading into the final week of the regular season, Missouri Southern is 43-7 overall, 18-4 in the MIAA to be second in the conference standings. In the latest NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll, MSSU was ranked 12^th (Apr. 21).
 
As a team, the Lions are hitting .340 with 297 runs scored (5.9), 451 hits (9.0), 82 doubles (1.6), 45 home runs (0.9) and 134 walks drawn (2.7) for a .411 on base and .528 slugging percentage (.939 OPS). As a pitching staff, MSSU owns a 2.08 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and .208 opponent average while striking out 332 hitters (6.6).
 
Bailey Dillon (.426) leads the team with 72 hits, 51 runs scored and 42 stolen bases. Taylor Nuckolls (.384) in second on the team with 66 hits, 44 runs scored and 36 RBI to go with 25 stolen bases. Katie Gray (.377) leads the team with 15 home runs and 47 RBI on the season while also drawing 32 walks for a .523 on base percentage. Carsen Tinkler (.374) is second on the team with seven home runs, with 52 hits on the season and 29 runs driven in. Maddie Rolfs (.349) and Emily Perry (.325) round out the qualified hitters batting above .300 this season. In the circle, Emily Davis (17-4, 1.77 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) in 138.1 innings has limited opponents to a .198 average and struck out 137 hitters. Kiki Pickens (18-3, 1.83 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) in 126.1 innings has struck out a team-high 146 hitters and is limiting opponents to a .191 average. Kadence Janney (7-0, 5 SV, 3.10 ERA, 1.35 WHIP) in 72.1 innings is holding opponents to a .254 average while striking out 49 hitters.