PITTSBURG — Hunter Clanin belted a go-ahead grand slam home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to propel the Pittsburg State University baseball team to a 7-4 victory over Missouri Southern State University Tuesday (Apr. 24) in the Gorillas home finale at Al Ortolani Field.

Pitt State (28-14, 20-10 MIAA) trailed 2-1 when Clanin sent reliever Logan VanWey's offering over the wall in left center field. VanWey entered the game after Lions reliever Cam Bednar (2-3) failed to record an out to start the frame, allowing a leadoff double to Dallas Reed and issuing back-to-back walks to Reece Garvie and Josh Whisler.

The Gorillas tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to expand their margin to 7-2 before holding on for the 7-4 victory over the Lions (23-21, 11-19 MIAA), who suffered their seventh straight defeat.

Clanin and Cole Brecheisen opened the eighth with consecutive doubles and Brett Macary added a two-out single in the frame.

Andy Pagnozzi (3-1) earned the win thanks to 2.0 innings of relief behind starter Jarret Dotson, who allowed just one unearned run in 4.0 innings of work. Cooper Gardner added 2 2/3 innings of relief. He came an out away from picking up his second save of the season. He issued a pair of unearned runs in the ninth after a Pitt State throwing error extended the inning. Cody White recorded the game's final out to register his 10th save of the season.

Reed went 3-for-4 in the game in his return to the lineup following an eight-game injury absence. Clanin finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs, while Brecheisen also collected a pair of hits in the contest.

Pitt State will travel to Kearney, Neb., to open a three-game MIAA series against the University of Nebraska-Kearney starting Friday (Apr. 27).