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The Pitt State Softball team took part in the Emporia State Softball Classic. The Gorillas participated in four matches, with the last two matches being cancelled. The first two games were against St. Cloud State Thursday, March 21 and the team won the first game (5-4) but lost the second game (5-7). In game two, the Gorillas were defeated by Upper Iowa (5-7), Thursday, March 21. Game three was another loss for the softball team against Minnesota State: Mankato (0-2) Friday, March 22. The fourth and final match in the classic was against Sioux Falls (S.D.) and the team rebounded and brought home another win (9-4) Friday, March 22.
Head coach Ashley Balazs believes the team played well in many aspects of the games.
“We did a lot of things well,” Balazs said. “(In) different games we had different highlights so a couple games we had some great defensive plays, our offense came alive at times, and then our pitching had some pretty good outings where we kept them to two or to four runs. So, we definitely did a lot of things well these last four games.”
In the first game against St. Cloud State, junior Kaity Kukowski had two RBIs and junior Kala Holder had one. Junior Makenzie Goswick had 13 putouts, freshman Madison Szymanski had four, and Holder and Kukowski each had one. Holder added five assists, Kukowski had four, and Szymanski had one.
In the game against Sioux Falls, Holder had four RBIs and freshman Keelah Griffith had one. Goswick had nine putouts, junior Brittanee Knepper had three, and Kukowski had two. Holder added five assists, Kukowski had two, and Knepper had one.
The softball team will be working on strikeouts, situational hitting, defense and pitching before their next games.
“This week we still need to offensively work on eliminating strikeouts… and then we are going to get into some situational hitting later in the week to prepare us,” Balazs said. “Defensively both of the teams have a lot of speed, so we definitely need to make sure we get out catchers ready for that and then pitching wise we just need to keep working off the plate…”
Balazs hopes to see the team continue winning matches.
“…We have an opportunity to come away with some wins here in the next four games (so) we just need to keep working towards our goal of making the conference tournament and stay on top.” Balazs said.
The softball team has a couple of upcoming matches. The Gorillas will face Emporia State University in a doubleheader Saturday, March 30 in Emporia. The first game will begin at 3 p.m. and the second and final game against Emporia for the weekend will start at 5 p.m. On Saturday, March 31 the softball team will travel to Topeka to go head to head with Washburn University in another doubleheader. The first game against Washburn will start at 1 p.m. and game two is set to start at 3 p.m.
