PITTSBURG - The Pittsburg State University softball team ended its season on Saturday (May 16) in the NCAA Division II Central Regional Championship Game at the Pittsburg State Softball Field.
The University of Central Oklahoma (45-14) advances to the Central Super Regionals against Missouri Southern State University next weekend in Joplin, Mo.
Pittsburg State (48-11) began the day with a 3-1 lead over UCO before the Bronchos claimed game two, 12-1 in five innings.
In game one, the Gorillas got on the board in the first inning off a
Lexi Davis RBI groundout that scored
Heather Arnett.
Kyleigh Lamont in the second inning hit a two-run home run to extend the lead up to 3-0. Rylee Lemos for UCO in the third drove in Sherri Mason to make it 3-1. Pittsburg State kept UCO off the scoreboard after the third inning to extend the season and force a winner-take-all championship game.
Ava Laurent (10-3) got the win in the circle with a pair of strikeouts, no walks and four hits. Arnett was the lone Gorilla to collect multiple hits in the game with
Haili Igou,
Kadyn Trochim,
Alleyna Rushing, Lamont and
Rachael Schlotter recording a hit.
Game two, UCO scored three runs in the first inning before a Davis RBI double to left center scored Igou to make it 3-1. Central Oklahoma scored four runs in the second and three runs in the third to make it a 10-1 game. The Bronchos added two more runs in the fifth inning as insurance in the 12-1 run rule decision.Â
Davis led the team with a pair of hits with Igou the other Gorilla to record a hit in the game.
Emma Crabb (16-5),
Lexi Franklin and
Amanda Gibilisco pitched in the game
