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PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team will open its final home series of the 2014 season Thursday (Apr. 17) against the University of Nebraska-Kearney. First pitch for the single nine-inning game is set for 6 p.m. (CDT) at Al Ortolani Field.

The Gorillas (15-27, 10-22 MIAA) enter the series on a five-game losing streak. Pitt State dropped a 6-4 decision to Missouri Southern State University in a non-conference match-up Tuesday (Apr. 15) after being swept at St. Joseph, Mo., in a four-game series against Missouri Western State University.

The Lopers enter Thursday's game at 24-15 overall and 18-14 in MIAA play. UNK has won five of its last seven games after taking three of four games against Washburn University last weekend.

The Gorillas are batting .279 and scoring 4.8 runs per game. Pitt State has a 5.60 team ERA. Junior catcher Nate Arnold leads the team offensively with a .363 batting average. Senior outfielder Cody Ball is batting .320 with four homers and a team-high 31 RBIs. Senior righthander Tyler Thompson (4-5, 4.66 ERA) has recorded 60 strikeouts in 58.0 innings of work.

The Lopers are batting .327 as a team and scoring 6.8 runs per game. Anthony Pacheco ranks fourth in the MIAA with a .421 batting average. The sophomore outfielder has also tallied three homers, 10 doubles and 33 RBIs. UNK has a 4.70 team ERA.

Following Thursday's game the two teams will meet in a 3 p.m. doubleheader Friday (Apr. 18) before wrapping up the series with a final game at 12 Noon Saturday (Apr. 19). Before Saturday's contest the Gorillas' 11 outgoing seniors will be honored: pitchers Cameron Fisher, James Firtzgearlds, Tyler Thompson and Dustin Ulrich, outfielders Cody Ball, Tory Stoffregen and Mitch Streeter, infielders Kyle Dickens, Brad Foss and Evan Thomas, and catcher Jacoby Martin.