PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team jumped out to a 6-0 lead early in game two and rode that momentum to a 7-1 victory to salvage a doubleheader split against Southwest Baptist University Sunday (Apr. 23) at Al Ortolani Field. The visiting Bearcats claimed a 9-5 win over the Gorillas in the series opener.

Pitt State (19-23, 13-15 MIAA) and SBU (28-13, 18-10 MIAA) will wrap up the three-game series with a 3 p.m. (CDT) contest Monday (Apr. 24).

Nick Brown (2-2) worked an inning of relief of PSU starter Ethan Vanderpool to earn the victory in game two. Ty Rowe limited SBU to one hit over the final four innings to record his first save of the season.

The Gorillas jumped on SBU starter Andrew Meier (4-1) with six runs on seven hits in the first two frames. Hunter Clanin had an RBI single in the first and a run scoring double in the second. Andrew Vogelbaugh went 3-for-3 with two RBIs in the contest.

Pitt State benefited from four SBU errors in the contest.

In game one, the Bearcats broke open a 5-5 game with three runs in the eighth and SBU added a final insurance run in the ninth to claim the win.

Ethan Schlesener hit a pair of home runs in the contest and drove in three runs. T.J. Martin and Chase Kilgore also collected two hits apiece.

Cooper Gardner (7-2) took the loss in relief, allowing four runs (three earned) and five hits in 1 1/3 innings of work.