PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University softball team is set to play Rogers State University on Thursday (May 14) to begin the NCAA Division II Central Regional for both teams.
 
First pitch from the Pittsburg State Softball Field is set for 2:00 p.m. (CDT) to begin the Pittsburg pod of the Central Regional. With a win, the Gorillas or Hillcats will play the winner of Winona State vs. Central Oklahoma on Friday (May 15) at 11:00 a.m. A loss in the first game of the weekend will pit either PSU or RSU against the loser of UCO v. WSU in an elimination game at 1:30 p.m., Friday.
 
For Pitt State, this is the third straight year in the Division II National Tournament and the second time in three years to serve as a host school. In the six prior trips to the DII National Tournament (1993-95, 2017, 2024 & 2025), the Gorillas are 3-12 with wins in 1994 and 2024.
 
At 45-9 on the season, the third-most wins in a season in Pittsburg State history, the Gorillas at home during the regular season went 19-5.
 
Ranked No. 17 in the latest NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll (May 12), the Gorillas this season when ranked are 36-9 and in the last three season when ranked are 97-13.
 
While already setting school records for team runs scored, RBI, doubles and walks drawn; the Gorillas have also set MIAA records for runs scored and RBI by a team in a season.
 
As a team, PSU is hitting .379 with 466 runs scored, 571 hits, 106 doubles, 52 home runs and 242 walks drawn for a .466 on base percentage and .574 slugging percentage. As a pitching staff, the Gorillas have a 2.78 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and .234 opponent batting average while striking out 281 hitters.
 
Heather Arnett (.537) leads the team with a Division II leading 108 hits and 77 runs scored, chipping in with 14 doubles, seven triples, 39 RBI and 38 stolen bases on the season. Kadyn Trochim (.450) leads the team with 18 doubles while being second among team ranks for hits (72) and RBI (73). Alleyna Rushing (.434) has accumulated 63 hits, scored 53 times, drawn 24 walks, driven in 23 runs and stolen 16 bases. Lexi Davis (.398) leads the team with 13 home runs and 75 RBI, a school record tally. Sailor Hall (.355) this season has accounted for 61 hits, 47 runs scored, 41 RBI, 16 doubles and 11 home runs. Haili Igou (.313) enters the weekend with 47 hits, 46 runs scored, 41 RBI, 38 walks drawn, 15 doubles and seven home runs. Rachael Schlotter (.313) has scored 35 runs, collected 36 hits, drawn 32 walks and driven in 29 runs. Kyleigh Lamont (.303) rounds out the qualified hitters this season hitting above .300 with 44 hits on the season, six or which have been home runs.
 
Emma Crabb (15-4, 2.39 ERA, 1.03 WHIP) leads the team with 117.0 innings of work, 99 strikeouts and a .206 opponent batting average. Ava Laurent (9-2, 2.78 ERA, 1.21 WHIP) in 68.0 innings has struck out 59 while limiting opponents to a .211 average. Lexi Franklin (13-2, 3.43 ERA, 1.52 WHIP) has struck out 70 hitters in 104.0 innings as opponents are hitting .267. Hall (8-1, 2.49 ERA, 1.24) in the circle has recorded 44 strikeouts in 45.0 innings with opponents hitting .273 against her.
 
All-time against Roger State, Pittsburg State is 13-17 against the Hillcats and 0-4 in postseason action. The two teams have meet in the past three MIAA Championships and just like this season were the first game in the 2025 Central Regional. During the regular season the teams split a doubleheader in Pittsburg, Kan. (Apr. 3) and last week in Emporia, Kan., the Hillcats began the conference tournament with a win over the Gorillas.
 
Entering the tournament at 36-19 overall and as the No. 7 seed in the region, Rogers State is making it's sixth NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance with a National Championship in 2022 and two regional crowns (2022 & 2024).
 
Harley Culie (20-10, 2.26 ERA, 1.15 WHIP) finished with three complete game efforts last weekend at the MIAA Championships and for the season has pitched 198.0 innings with 212 strikeouts and a .213 opponent average. Kinsley Hill (13-6, 1.65 ERA, 1.12 WHIP) and Erica Ross (2-2, 5 SV, 3.09 ERA, 1.46 WHIP) are the other members of the pitching staff that appeared in at least 20 games this season. Hill in 118.2 innings has struck out 80 hitters while holding opponents to a .197 average and Ross in 45.1 innings of relief work struck out 26 and held opponents to a .268 average.
 
Jaden Jordan (.353) leads the team in batting average, hits (55), home runs (12), RBI (33), slugging percentage (.635), walks drawn (20) and on base percentage (.427). Jordan is the only qualified hitter batting above .270 this season and is the only hitter with at least 3 at bats to have an average above .300. Raylin Morgan (.250) leads the team with 12 doubles, Mariah Belzer (.270) is the team leader for runs scored with 25 and Chloe Cardona (.236) is tied for the team lead with 20 walks drawn.
The other members of the Pittsburg Pod, No. 11 Central Oklahoma and No. 25 Winona State have played Pittsburg State this season, with the Bronchos claiming a sweep and the Warriors being the first team to beat PSU this season.
 
All-time against UCO, the Gorillas are 22-29 in a series that began in 1983. At home Pittsburg State is 9-11 against the Bronchos and overall in the last 10 games between the two team, UCO has a 7-3 advantage.
 
Making their seventh straight trip to the NCAA Division II National Tournament and 17^th overall. UCO enters the weekend at 42-13 on the season, looking to claim a sixth regional championship (2006, 12-13, 2023 & 2025) while capturing the 2013 National Championship.
 
Rylee Lemos (.395) offense with 70 hits, 61 runs scored, 65 RBI, 17 doubles, 12 home runs, seven triples and 28 walks drawn. Brooklyn Ryan (.385) is tied for the team lead with 70 hits on the season, adding in 52 runs scored, 31 RBI, 14 doubles and four home runs to go with a team-high 17 stolen bases. Haley Gallo (.383) was one of the top freshman in the MIAA after putting piecing together 64 hits, scoring 47 runs, collecting 61 RBI, 19 doubles and 12 home runs. Jenna Jobe (.379), Hannah Demoff (.342), Sherri Mason (.339), Kennedy Clark (.335), Brooklyn Lyles (.333) and Rylee Anglen (.318) round out the qualified hitters for UCO this season with each hitter batting above .300 so far this season.
 
In the circle, Carleigh Kinnaird (17-4, 2.80 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) and Shelby Beard (21-6, 3.04 ERA, 1.36 WHIP) have both pitched 145.0 innings this season with Kinnaird having a team-high 152 strikeouts and .207 opponent batting average. Beard is holding opponents to a .251 average while striking out 117 hitters. Madison Hamilton (3-3, 2 SV, 2.59 ERA, 1.36 WHIP) is the most used reliever on the team with 51.1 innings of work, striking out 38 and holding opponents to a .251 average.
 
All-time against WSU, Pittsburg State is 9-10 in the series that dates back to 1990. In Pittsburg, the Gorillas are 6-4 and coincidentally enough PSU is 6-4 overall in the last 10 meetings between the schools.
 
Entering the weekend the Warrios are 48-9 on the year, making the programs 15^th NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance.
 
Izzy Howe (19-4, 2 SV, 2.37 ERA, 1.15 WHIP) and Jayda Berg (20-4, 4 SV, 1.99 ERA, 0.97 WHIP) are a rare combo of two potential aces of various sizes and throwing handeness. Howe the 5-4 right handed junior in 156.2 innings has struck out 188 hitters to 63 walks while holding opponents toa .205 average. Berg the 6-3 left handed junior has walked only 13 hitters in 165.2 innings of work, striking out 124 batters as opponents are hitting .228 against her. Ashley Theisen (9-0, 2 SV, 2.74 ERA, 1.16 WHIP) is the most used reliever on the staff with 53.2 innings of work, striking out 67 and holding opponents to a .229 average.
 
Alyssa Woelfel (.416) leads the team with 77 hits, 59 runs scored, 18 doubles, 10 stolen bases and nine home runs. Tiegan Mancuso (.333) is second on the team with 56 hits and 10 sacrifice hits. Bryn Elsenpeter (.333) leads the team with 12 home runs and 51 RBI to go with 32 walks drawn. Ashlee Chantos (.325), Lila McNeill (.324) and Indigo Fish (.303) round out the qualified hitters batting above .300 entering the weekend.