PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team jumped out to a 7-1 lead and held on for a 10-7 victory over Missouri Western State University Sunday (Mar. 12) at Al Ortolani Field.

The Gorillas (8-14, 2-7 MIAA) scored two runs in the first inning and two more in the second against the Griffons (11-8, 8-1 MIAA). Pitt State added three more runs in the fourth inning to break the game open.

Cooper Gardner (3-0) worked 3 1/3 innings of relief to earn the victory, after starter Dante Richardson limited MWSU to three runs in 4 1/3 innings of work. Cort Lesmeister recorded the final four outs to earn his third save of the season.

Dallas Reed led the Pitt State offense, going 4-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBIs. Colton Pogue belted a two-run home run and drove in three runs overall. Hunter Clanin also had a pair of hits and two RBIs, while Chase Kilgore went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

The Griffons outhit the Gorillas, 13-11, but MWSU struggled in the field committing six errors.