PITTSBURG -- The Pittsburg State University baseball team opened a four-game series with a split against the University of Minnesota Duluth Saturday (Feb. 18). The Gorillas defeated the Bulldogs, 9-4, in game one, before UMD pulled out a 12-11 extra-inning win in the night cap.

The two teams will complete the four-game series with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Sunday (Feb. 19) at Al Ortolani Field.

In the opener, the Gorillas (4-5) got a strong start on the mound from Cody Whiting (2-0). Whiting allowed three runs in five innings of work. He exited the game with a 5-3 lead. Cort Lesmeister picked up his second save of the season by getting the final five outs. In between, Blaine Fisher limited UMD to one run over 2.3 innings of middle relief.

Dallas Reed went 4-for-4 to pace Pitt State's 11-hit attack. He scored three runs and added an RBI. Andrew Vogelbaugh and Hunter Clanin each collected two hits and drove in a pair of runs.

In game two, UMD jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Pitt State rallied with two runs in the first, six in the second and two more runs in the third to grab a 10-5 advantage.

The Gorillas still led 11-7 before the Bulldogs tied the score with four runs in the sixth inning.

Pitt State had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, loading the bases with no outs but UMD reliever Colton Sinning struck out the side to escape the tough spot.

UMD's Drew Stewart then hit a two-out solo home run in the top of the eighth inning off Pitt State reliever Tripp Tucker (0-1) for the deciding run.

Colton Pogue went 3-for-3 with a double, triple, home run and four RBIs for the Gorillas, while Reed went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs.