Sunday, February 26, 2017

PSU softball sweeps home opener doubleheader from Upper Iowa

(From Pittsburg State University Athletics)

PITTSBURG -- The Pitt State softball team earned 8-0 and 10-7 wins over Upper Iowa in the team's home opening doubleheader against Upper Iowa (1-7) on Saturday (Feb. 25) afternoon at the PSU Softball Complex. The Gorillas are now 13-5 on the season.

In game one, the Gorillas scored eight runs on seven hits and pitcher Emmie Robertson struck out 10 to earn the 8-0, run-rule victory in five innings. Kala Holder and Lawren McKinney were each 2-for-3. Holder scored two runs. McKinney scored one run and earned an RBI on a double. Nicole Nease led the team with three RBI.

Pitt State scored all of its runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Holder led off the fourth with a base hit. With one out she scored on a throwing error by the Peacock short stop. They error left Jenna Bolton safe at second. Katy Remy was hit by a pitch and Kris VanHoosen walked to load the bases. Kaity Kukowski hit a base hit to riht to score Bolton. Myka Hayward was safe on a fielder's choice, as Remy was thrown out at home. Sierra Hall came in to run for Hayward. Nease blasted a double deep into center to clear the bases and put the Gorillas up 5-0.

Holder again led off the fifth, this time with a base hit down the left line. McKinney followed with a double, allowing Holder to score all the way from first. A Bolton ground out moved McKinney to third. Remy was hit by a pitch and Upper Iowa brought in Erin Drahozal to replace Emily Kisch in the circle. Van Hoosen added a base hit to right, scoring McKinney and advancing Remy to third. Kukowski was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The game ended as Hall hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Remy for the 8-0 win.

Robertson faced the minimum number of batters in the game. She allowed only one hit.

The Gorillas scored in every inning but the fifth in game two, but Upper Iowa was able to put more runners on base to make the second game much closer. Pitt State scored 10 runs on 12 hits and three Upper Iowa errors, while the Peacocks scored seven runs on seven hits and one Pitt State error.

Nine of the 13 Pitt State batters in the game got hits, while 12 were able to get on base. Hall paced the Gorillas with a 3-for-3 performance. Tiara Ewy was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. Alicia Lowrey, Nease and Kylie Guthier each also recorded two RBI.

All four Pitt State pitchers faced batters in the game. Bree Cornett started the game and pitched 3.0 innings. She gave up three runs four hits on and struck out two. Brittany Beaudet gave up two runs and two walks. Morgan Myers gave up three hits and two runs. Robertson finished the game, throwing 3.2 innings and striking out six.

The Gorillas' first run came as a Guthier base hit scored Kaity Kukowski for a 1-0 lead.

Four runs scored in the bottom of the second. McKinney led off the inning with a base hit. She advanced to second on a passed ball. Remy reached on a fielder's choice that left McKinney out at third. Ewy hit a double to left to score Remy for a 2-0 lead. Van Hoosen walked and Kukowski was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Nease dropped a two-out base hit in left to bring home Ewy. Guthier was hit by a pitch and Holder walked, both with bases loaded to bring in two more runs.

A three-run home run by Upper Iowa's Sammy Garrett narrowed the Pitt State lead to two-runs, 5-3, in the top of the third.

Nease drew a bases loaded walk in the bottom half of the inning to make the score 6-3.

Beaudet replaced Cornett in the circle for the Gorillas in the top of the fourth. Two of the first three batters walked, prompting another pitching change, as Morgan Myers came in. Two base hits and a triple by SamiKay Shafranski scored four runs and gave Upper Iowa a 7-6 lead. Robertson came in for the Gorillas and retired the next two batters to end the inning.

Pitt State did not let the one-run deficit affect its bats. Holder led off the inning with a base hit. With two outs, Ewy added another double to score Holder and tie the game. Van Hoosen singled to right to score Ewy for the 8-7 lead.

Upper Iowa did not get another runner on base and Pitt State added two more runs on a two-run pinch hit home run by Alicia Lowrey. It was her first home run as a Gorilla.

Pitt State and Upper Iowa will face off in a second doubleheader on Sunday (Feb. 26) beginning at 11 a.m.

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