Alyssa Tyler editor in chief
The now 30-2 Pitt State softball team is the first NCAA team to reach 30 wins so far in the 2024 season. The team has now also climbed from No. 13 to No. 11 in the most recent NFCA/NCAA Division II Top 25 poll released on Mar. 19. The Gorillas hold the nation’s longest winning streak with 20 consecutive wins.
The Gorillas began their spring break by hosting the University of Central Missouri on Mar. 9.
The Gorillas had a 2-0 weekend, with a 4-2 win for the Gorillas on Saturday. Ava Laurent had 14 strikeouts, earning her eighth win of the season. Gabby Schultz and Amaya Snyder both had an RBI.
On Mar. 10 the Gorillas had a 1-4 victory even with the Mules creating a 2-1 lead by the end of the first inning. However, the Gorillas created a seven-run third inning, leaving them with the win. Paxtyn Hayes hit two home runs and finished with 5 RBI. Chelsea Belville took another win after 4.1 relief innings, striking out eight.
The Gorillas weren’t finished however, again on Mar. 10 they took on the Lincoln University Blue Tigers. Pittsburg State won both games yet again, with the first game being 3-0 in seven innings and game two by 13-1 in a run-rule five innings.
In game one Ava Laurent picked up her ninth win by pitching a complete game with 14 strikeouts. Maddie Fernandez collected two RBI on a single. Heather Arnett and Hannah Burnnett went 2-of-3 at the top of the order and scored a run.
The second game highlighted the Gorillas with three runs by the first inning, five in the second, and four more in the third. Arnett scored three runs and earned three RBI. Burnett, Hayes, and Sophia Driver all earned two RBI and finished the game with two hits each. Kiana Pogroszewski had six strikeouts in 5.0 innings, earning her seventh win of the season.
On Mar. 11 Laurent was named MIAA Pitcher of the Week as she went 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA through 21 innings. Laurent fanned 38 batters, issued two walks, held a 0.67 WHIP, all while only allowing the opposition to a .162 batting average. Looking at the MIAA, Laurent is first in strikeouts with 107, opposing batter average with .183, third in innings pitched (73.0) and 9 victories, and finally is fourth overall with an ERA of 1.25. Laurent was also named the Division II Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week on Mar. 12.
Laurent is the first recipient of the pitching award in Pittsburg State softball program history since the awards beginning in 2014. Two other Gorillas have earned the award as the Division II Louisville Slugger/Player of the Week: Paxtyn Hayes (2023) and Tiffany Brown (2014).
Next Pitt State played double headers against Winona State and Concordia-St.Paul on Mar. 15 and Mar. 17.
This weekend was full of action and moved Hayes and Arnett through the history book. Hayes is now sixth for career home runs with 35, not only that but her RBI tally of 154 is ranked 5th for Pittsburg State ranks. Arnett tied for third with 26 stolen bases this season, her 52 career stolen bases puts her 5th in program history.
The Gorillas will travel to Tahlequah, OKLA to take on the Northeastern State Riverhawks and Rogers State for MIAA competition.