Pitt State softball is just coming off two doubleheaders: One against Rogers State, where they split the series, and one against Drury, where the Gorillas won in dominating fashion.
The Gorillas started the first game against Rogers strong with an early score of a single in the first. This score was quickly matched by a home run by Rogers. The Gorillas answered strongly with a homerun by Junior Haili Igou. Rogers State then scored six consecutive runs across the fourth and fifth innings. The Gorillas attempted to claw back into the game by scoring four runs in the fifth, but it wasn’t enough, with the final score being an 8-6 loss for the Gorillas, marking only their second loss on the season. This loss snaps the Gorillas’ 30-game win streak at home and marks the first loss at home in the regular season since 2023.
The Gorillas were given an early scare in the first inning of the second game with Rogers homering to get a score on the board. Luckily, the Gorillas remained unfazed by the home run and did not allow a single run for the rest of the game. Graduate Student Kadyn Trochim hit a sac fly in the first to bring in a run. She then homered to left field, scoring two more runs. Senior Lexi Davis and senior Sailor Hall both hit homers in the sixth inning, with those being the final points of the game, leaving the final score to be 5-1.
Coach Josh Barnes knew these games against Drury may be tough with some ranked wins under their belt, saying, “We know that team is very competitive they have some ranked wins and they are a good team.”
Pitt State did not trail at any point in either of the games against Drury. The Gorillas came out strong against Drury in the first game, with junior Trista Peterson hitting a single up the middle to bring in an early score. Later in that same inning, senior Heather Arnett hit a triple down the infield line, bringing in three runs, leaving the score to be 4-0. Igou hit a double to bring in a run in the third, but Drury answered with a score in the fourth. The gorillas didn’t let that score go unanswered, though, with their own score in the fourth after Arnett hit a groundout that turned into a double play, with one runner getting home. The fifth inning was the final inning, and a lot of points were scored in that inning by both teams. Drury scored three in the fifth inning, bringing the score to 6-4. Just as it looked like it might be a close game for the Gorillas, they ran away with the game, scoring six in the fifth inning. Igou doubled, bringing in the first run, then Peterson hit a triple down the right field foul line, bringing in two more runs. Thanks to singles by senior Alleyna Rushing and graduate student Kadyn Trochim, the Gorillas scored three more runs and ended the game, with the final score being 12-4.
Arnett tied an NCAA Division II record on Tuesday, April 7. She has recorded at least one hit in 41 consecutive games, which ties the record previously set by Katelyn Lovato for Adams State back in 2011.
The game was scoreless heading into the third inning in the second game against Drury. Hall hit a single to bring in a run to start the third. A double to the right by junior Bailey Haselhorst brought in three more runs, but the scoring didn’t stop there for the Gorillas. Junior Rachael Schlotter hit a double to bring in two runs, and Rushing hit a single to bring in another two runs, with Pitt scoring eight total runs in the third inning. Davis hit a home run to left center field to cash in another run, with junior Taylor Lundien hitting a single to drive home one more run, putting the Gorillas at 10-0. Drury scored four in the fifth inning to make the game a little closer, before Haselhorst hit a home run to left field, scoring two runs and ending the game, with the final score being 12-4.
Arnett said that she is ready for the doubleheader at Northwest Missouri, saying, “I’m feeling pretty good, I feel like we can take these two wins and carry them on the road.”
The Pittsburg State Gorillas will return to action at Northwest Missouri on Friday, April 10.