Pittsburg softball won its ninth consecutive game to improve to 18-4 on the season and clinch at least a share of the Southeast Kansas League title at 11-1, edging host Labette County 3-2 on Tuesday.

The Purple Dragons scored single runs in three straight innings and Labette scored one in the second and closed out the scoring with one in the sixth.

Emily Shriver's RBI double broke a 1-all score in the third and Brette Pasteur's sacrifice fly scoring Leah Niederklein extended the lead to 3-1 after four. Niederklein doubled leading off the inning.

Breck Slaughter earned the win and she allowed two runs (none earned) on two hits with nine strikeouts and four walks over seven innings. She finished at 98 pitches.

Pittsburg hosts Ottawa for a doubleheader Thursday. The Dragons are currently the No. 3 seed in Class 5A East and they are hoping to move into the No. 2 position.

Pittsburg 011 100 0 — 3 3 3

Labette 010 001 0 — 2 2 2

Breck Slaughter and Peyton Morey; Karsyn Moore and Avery DuVall. W: Slaughter. L: Moore. 2B—PHS: Emily Shriver, Leah Niederklein.

This sports reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/fund/support-local-journalism-project-fund/