PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University softball team is set to begin the MIAA Championship against a familiar postseason foe, Rogers State on Thursday (May 7).
 
Fans can listen to Eddie Lomshek on 100.7 FM or through the KSHQ app this weekend, watch on the MIAA Network or follow along with Live Stats, all linked in the story.
 
First pitch from the Trusler Sports Complex is tentatively set for 4:00 p.m. (CDT). The winner will advance to the semifinal round on Friday (May 8) for a 2:30 p.m. start time against either No. 12 Central Oklahoma, Northeastern State or Northwest Missouri. The loser will wait for the NCAA Division II Softball Selection Show on Monday (May 11) at 9:00 a.m. (CDT) to see where they rank in the Central Region.
 
Ranked 14^th in the latest NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll (May 5), Pittsburg State ended the regular season at 45-8 overall and 17-7 in the MIAA.
 
On Wednesday (May 6) the Gorillas were announced as the No. 2 team in the second edition of the Central Region poll, with MIAA foes, Missouri Southern (1^st, 45-7), Central Oklahoma (3^rd, 41-12), Rogers State (7^th, 34-18), and Emporia State (10^th, 28-17) also featured. From the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), Winona State (5^th, 45-8) and St. Cloud State (6^th, 44-12) were joined by the Great American Conference (GAC) Southern Arkansas (4^th, 43-7), Oklahoma Baptist (40-13) and Arkansas Tech (40-13).
 
On the season, Pittsburg State is hitting .382 (2^nd in DII) with 565 hits (2nd), 446 runs scored (3rd), 105 doubles (6th), 52 home runs (18^th), 239 walks drawn (2^nd), 416 RBI (3rd) for a .468 on base percentage (2nd) and .580 slugging percentage (3rd). In the circle, Pitt State owns a 2.73 ERA (38^th), 1.28 WHIP (34^th), .234 opponent batting average with 278 strikeouts (5.2 per game) to 136 walks (2.6 per game) for a 2.04 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
 
As a team, the Gorillas have already set school records for runs scored, RBI, doubles and walks drawn and set MIAA records for runs scored and RBI in a season.
 
Heather Arnett (.533) a three-time All-MIAA first-team selection this season has set new MIAA records for season hits (105) and runs scored (77) to go with becoming the MIAA career leader for hits, runs scored and stolen bases during the course of the season. The Pittsburg, Kan., native this season has driven in 39 runs from the leadoff spot, stolen 38 bases, hit 14 doubles and seven triples to go with seven walks drawn for a .546 on base percentage. Among Division II ranks this season, Arnett is 1^st for hits and runs scored, 2^nd for batting average, 11^th for total bases (136) and triples, 17^th for stolen bases and 20^th for on base percentage.

Kadyn Trochim (.455) earned All-MIAA first-team honors after collecting 71 hits, 73 RBI, scoring 46 runs, drawing 37 walks, hitting 18 doubles and seven home runs for a .561 on base percentage. The Waco, Texas native this season ranks 2^nd for sacrifice flies (8), 4^th for RBI, 9^th for on base percentage, 20^th for batting average, 28^th for doubles, 35^th for hits and 37^th for walks per game (0.70) among Division II individuals.
 
 
Alleyna Rushing (.438) was named a second-team selection in the outfield after collecting 63 hits, scoring 53 runs, drawing 24 walks, driving in 23 runs and stealing 16 bases. Rushing ranked 37^th in Division II for runs scored and for batting average.

Lexi Davis (.396) is the first primary catcher for Pittsburg State to be named All-MIAA first-team since Kala Holder in 2018, this season Davis finished the regular season with 75 RBI to set a new school record. The Harrisburg, Ark., native for the year collected 63 hits, scored 39 runs, 16 doubles, a team-high 13 home runs and drew 28 walks. Among Division II ranks this season, Davis is 3^rd for RBI, 31^st for total bases (122) and 34^th for home runs.

Sailor Hall (.359) a second-team selection as a utility player, finished the season with 61 hits, 47 runs scored, 42 RBI, 16 doubles, 11 home runs and 15 walks drawn.

Haili Igou (.320) was named an honorable mention All-MIAA performer on Tuesday (May 5). Igou for the regular season finished with 47 hits, 46 runs scored, 41 runs driven in, 37 walks drawn, 15 doubles, eight stolen bases and seven home runs. Among Division II ranks, Igou ranked 28^th for walks drawn per game at 0.73.

Rachael Schlotter (.319) amassed 36 hits, scored 35 runs with 31 walks drawn and 29 runs driven in. Kyleigh Lamont (.310) rounds out the qualified hitters (2 PA/G and 75% of GP) from the regular season, Lamont collected 45 RBI with six home runs and seven doubles. Other members of the team that will feature heavily down the stretch are Bailey Haselhorst (.328) with 18 RBI from 20 hits and scoring 16 runs, Taylor Lundien (.301) with 12 RBI from 25 hits and 14 runs scored, and Trista Peterson (.293) with 27 hits, 27 runs scored, 18 RBI and five home runs.
 
Emma Crabb (15-3, 2.12 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) was named All-MIAA second team after leading the team with 115.2 innings of work, 99 strikeouts and a .200 opponent batting average. Among Division II ranks this season, Crabb is 28^th in WHIP,  66^th in ERA and 67^th in Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio (3.09).

Ava Laurent (9-2, 3.00 ERA, 1.25 WHIP) in 63.0 innings during the regular season struck out 56 hitters and held opponents to a .216 average. Lexi Franklin (13-2, 3.45 ERA, 1.51 WHIP) in 103.1 innings of work struck out 70 hitters with opponents hitting .267 against her. Hall (8-1, 2.49 ERA, 1.24 WHIP) in 45.0 innings, struck out 44 opponents while they hit .273 against her. Amanda Gibilisco (0-0, 1.11 ERA, 1.74 WHIP) in 6.1 innings during the regular season held opponents to a .250 average while striking out six. Erica Schertz (0-0, 2.90 ERA, 2.07 WHIP) in 9.2 innings of work in the regular season, held opponents to a .171 average.
 
All-time against Rogers State, Pittsburg State is 13-16 against the Hillcats and 0-3 at neutral sites. In the last two seasons the teams have meet in the MIAA Championship twice (2024 Championship and 2025 Semifinal) and in the opening game of the 2025 NCAA Division II Central Regional for both teams. This season the teams split a doubleheader in Pittsburg, Kan. (Apr. 3).
 
This season, Rogers State is 34-18 overall and finished 14-10 against MIAA opposition to be the sixth seed. RSU had one member of the team named to the All-MIAA first-team and two student-athletes selected to the second-team.
 
As a team, Rogers State is hitting .259 with 200 runs scored (3.8), 340 hits (6.5), a .338 on base percentage and .381 slugging percentage. In the circle the Hillcats have a 2.11 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and .215 opponent batting average, striking out 304 hitters while issuing out 130 walks for a 2.34 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
 
The only qualified hitter batting above .300 this season is Jaden Jordan (.369). Jordan was the only non-pitcher named All-MIAA this season for the Hillcats, being named to the second-team at first base. This season Jordan leads the team with 55 hits, 12 home runs, 33 RBI, .664 slugging and .431 on base percentages. Heading into the weekend, RSU has 10 players listed as qualified hitters (2 PA/G and 75% of GP) with the nine listed below Jordan in batting average ranging from .275-.218.
 
Harley Culie (18-9, 2.17 ERA, 1.11 WHIP) was named to the first-team and Kinsley Hill (13-6, 1.65 ERA, 1.12 WHIP) to the second-team as pitchers. Culie in 177.2 innings has gone the distance in 18 of her 27 starts this season, striking out 191 hitters while issuing out 62 walks (3.08 strikeout-to-walk raio) and holding opponents to a .208 average. Hill in 118.2 innings finished the regular season with 10 complete games in 25 starts, striking out 81 opponents while holding them to a .197 average and issuing out 50 walks (1.62 strikeout-to-walk ratio). In relief, Erica Ross (2-2, 5 SV, 3.09 ERA, 1.46 WHIP) in 45.1 innings of work from the bullpen has appeared in 20 games, striking out 26 while issuing out 17 walks as opponents have hit .268 against her.