Gorilla Bats Tie Record as Team Earns 12th Straight Win
PSU
Tuesday, April 3, 2012 2:00 AM
News
Pittsburg, KS
Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box | Season Stats
ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- Pittsburg State power hitters Mannie DeCastro and Tiffany Brown tied school records on Friday (March 30) as the two helped the softball team to a 6-2 and 7-2 doubleheader sweep of future MIAA foe Lindenwood. The Gorillas are now 19-16 on the season.
Both Brown and DeCastro hit home runs in the second game of the doubleheader. Brown's was her 13th of the season, tying the PSU individual single season record. While DeCastro's was only her ninth of the season, it was the 38th of her career, also tying the PSU record for career home runs. Both records were previously held by Emily Gastineau. Gastineau hit 13 home runs during the 2004 season and 38 for her career spanning from 2004-2006. Pitt State has also surpassed the team record for home runs in a season with 40 in the first 35 games. The previous record was 33 in 2004.
Pitt State has now won 12 straight games, the most since a 12 game winning streak from March 12 to March 19, 2004. The school record for consecutive wins is 15, set in 1993.
Pitt State capitalized on 10 hits and two Lion errors to win game one 6-2. PSU pitcher Hilary Erbert gave up only five hits in the game to earn her ninth win of the season.
The Gorilla got on the board early. DeCastro got the Pitt State bats started with a two out double. She came home on a Kreslee Ketcham base hit to center for the 1-0 lead.
Pitt State went down in order in the second, but that brought up the top of the lineup to start the third. Brenna George used her speed to lead off with a bunt single. She scored on a one-out RBI double by DeCastro. A base hit by Brown put runners at first and third. Brown stole second to move into scoring position. Another base hit by Ketcham scored DeCastro and an error by the Lions right fielder brought home Brown for the 4-0 lead.
PSU scored its final two runs in the top of the fifth. With one back-to-back hits by DeCastro and Brown and a walk to Ketcham loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly by Katelyn Birchfield brought home DeCastro and a base hit by Perez scored Brown to put Pitt State up by six runs.
The Lions scored their two runs off three hits in the bottom of the seventh. Prior to the seventh inning, Erbert and the Pitt State defense had only allowed one runner beyond first base in the game.
DeCastro finished the game 3-for-3 with two doubles, a walk, three runs scored and an RBI. Brown and Ketcham both went 2-for-3 with a walk with Brown scoring two runs and Ketcham swinging in two RBI.
Game two started even better for the Gorillas. DeCastro again started the team with a two-out hit. Brown followed with her school record tying 13th home run of the season to give PSU a 2-0 lift.
After a quiet second inning, Cheslyn Mitchell led off the top of the third with a base hit. She came in on a DeCastro triple for a 3-0 lead. Brown added another RBI, for three in her first two at bats, with a base hit to score DeCastro.
The final three Pitt State runs scored in the Gorilla half of the fourth. Brenna George led off with a base hit. Mitchell reached on a Lion error. That is when DeCastro belted her school-record tying 38th career home run for a 7-0 score in favor of Pitt State.
Lindenwood scored its two runs in the bottom of the sixth off two hits and one Pitt State error.
Jessica Barnes gave up only seven hits and one earned run as she pitched her way to her fourth win of the season. She struck out three batters and walked none in six innings of work. Brown pitched the final inning for Pitt State.
DeCastro again the Gorilla offense, this time with a 3-for-4 performance with four RBI, three runs scored, a triple and a home run. She was a double short of hitting for the cycle. Mitchell Brown and Alex Perez each went 2-for-4 in game two. Brown also had a run scored, a home run and three RBI. Mitchell scored two runs.
Pitt State returns to MIAA conference play on Saturday (March 31) as the team takes on Lincoln at 1 p.m. in Jefferson City.