The Collegio Pittsburg's student voice since 1916
Curtis Meyer reporter
It has been a historic season for the Pitt State Gorillas, as they raced to a school record 49 wins, good enough for the second MIAA crown in school history. Not only did the Gorillas win, but they also culminated the season with a sweep of the #5 Bronchos in a doubleheader at home. Pitt State’s record currently stands as the best in all of Division II softball this season.
The #9 Gorillas started the series off with a bang, winning 10-2 in five innings over the Bronchos. Scoring one in the first and two in the second, the Gorillas offense found a new gear in the third, scoring six to take control of the game. The Bronchos would score a pair of runs in the fourth, but another run in the bottom of the inning by the Gorillas and a goose egg in the fifth gave Pitt State their 47th win of the season.
Sophomore Heather Arnett hit her second home run of the season, as she led the team’s offense with three RBI, one run, and two hits. Graduate student Sydney Sneed added two RBI, while three other Gorillas chipped in with an RBI each. Freshman Ava Laurent picked up her 19th win of the season, striking out six batters in four innings.
In game two, Pitt State once again got the lead early, scoring twice in the first and once in the second inning to take a 3-0 lead. Central Oklahoma would make it close in the fifth, scoring a pair of runs to make it 3-2. Pitt State would add two insurance runs in the sixth, before closing out the game at the top of the seventh.
Arnett led the way on offense yet again, accounting for both runs in the sixth. Senior Paxtyn Hayes and junior Courtney Storey each collected an RBI. Senior Kiana Pogroszewski picked up her 17th win of the season, striking out three in 4.2 innings. Junior Chelsea Beville earned her fifth save of the year, striking out three in 2.1 innings coming in for relief.
Head coach Jenny Fuller earned her 100th career win at Pitt State in the first game, becoming the fastest coach in Pitt State history to record 100 wins. She did so in just 152 games. The team itself recorded a new school record for wins, beating the old mark of 48-15 set back in 1994.
Sitting at #9, the Gorillas are co-champions in the MIAA, with their 23-3 MIAA conference record tied with Rogers State, despite Rogers only going 41-11 on the season. The Gorillas and Hill Cats will each get a first-round bye in the upcoming MIAA tournament and will face the winner of Missouri Western and Fort Hays. Pitt State swept both opponents in two game series during the regular season.