PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team will wrap up a 15-game homestand when the Gorillas open a three-game MIAA series against defending MIAA regular season champion Emporia State University starting Friday (Mar. 9) at Al Ortolani Field. The Gorillas and Hornets will meet in a 2 p.m. doubleheader Friday and finish the series with a 1 p.m. game Saturday. The series originally was scheduled for single games Friday through Sunday, but the schedule was altered Thursday morning (Mar. 8).

The Gorillas are 13-5 overall and 5-1 in MIAA play. Pitt State has posted a 9-1 record in its last 10 games after starting the season 4-4. The Gorillas swept a non-conference twinbill against Wayne State College in its last outings Tuesday (Mar. 6), downing the Wildcats 12-2 and 10-3.

Pitt State, which is tied atop the MIAA standings with Central Oklahoma and Northwest Missouri, enters the ESU batting .346 as a team and scoring 8.3 runs per game. The Gorillas have a 5.18 team ERA. Pitt State leads the MIAA in batting average and ranks third in the league in runs scored.

Senior shortstop Colton Pogue leads the squad with a .441 batting average. He has scored 22 runs and driven in 15 more. Pogue ranks second in the MIAA in runs scored and third in the conference in batting average. Senior outfielder Hunter Clanin is hitting .365 with five doubles and 18 RBIs. Clanin and senior catcher Josh Whisler (.317 BA) are tied four fouth in the MIAA in RBIs (18).

Senior RHP Cody Whting (3-0, 3.42 ERA) and junior RHP Brendan Stanek (2-2, 5.79 ERA) each have made five starts on the season, while junior RHP Andy Pagnozzi (1-1, 10.00 ERA) has made four starts. Whiting shares the MIAA lead with three victories to date

Emporia State brings a 9-7 overall record and 3-3 MIAA mark into Friday's action. The Hornets swept a three-game MIAA series against Southwest Baptist in their most recent action Mar. 2-4. ESU is batting .308 as a team and scoring 8.4 runs per game. The Hornets have a 5.54 team ERA.