PITTSBURG —Jay Hrdlicka belted three home runs and drove in six runs to lead the Northwest Missouri State University baseball team to an 11-4 victory over Pittsburg State University Sunday (Apr. 2) at Al Ortolani Field.

The Bearcats (20-10, 9-8 MIAA) swept the three-game series from the Gorillas (12-22, 6-14 MIAA) with the victory.

Hrdlicka belted a two-run home run as part of a four-run top of the first as Northwest jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead against starter Dante Richardson (1-2).

The Gorillas countered with four runs in the bottom of the first, including a two-run home run by Hunter Clanin, to climb back into the contest.

The Bearcats added single runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings and Hrdlicka capped a 4-for-4 hitting day with a three-run shot in the top of the ninth to cap Northwest' scoring. Brad Richards (4-4) worked six innings on the mound for the Bearcats, allowing three earned runs and registering five strikeouts. Austin Battaglia and Nikko Pablo combined to work three scoreless relief innings for Northwest.

Colton Pogue was the only Pitt State batter with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The Gorillas will return to action Tuesday (Apr. 4) when they host Northeastern State University in an MIAA contest at 6 p.m. (CDT).