PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team will host the University of Central Missouri in a three-game MIAA series beginning Saturday (Mar. 30). The Gorillas and Mules will meet a 2 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday (Mar. 31) and Noon Monday (Apr. 1) at Al Ortolani Field.

Pitt State enters the weekend series 13-13 overall and 7-8 in MIAA play. The Gorillas are seeking to halt a four-game losing streak after being swept in an MIAA series against the University of Central Oklahoma last weekend at Edmond, Okla. UCM is 18-9 overall and 10-5 in MIAA play. The Mules took two of three games in a conference series against Washburn University last weekend at Warrensburg, Mo.

The Gorillas are scoring 5.7 runs per game and batting .239 as a team. Pitt State pitchers have a 4.03 team ERA.

Junior outfielder Chaz Burgess leads the squad with a .414 batting average. He has smacked five doubles, four home runs and 17 RBIs in 17 games played. Junior first baseman Ty Herrenbruck is batting .239 with six doubles, six home runs and a team-leading 20 RBIs.

Senior lefthander Brad Kinsey (4-1, 2.30 ERA) and senior righthander Alex Achtermann (2-4, 4.99) each of have made eight starts on the mound. Junior righthander Tyler McGrew (0-0, 3.07 GPA) also figures to start on the mound for the Gorillas.