PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team will travel to Emporia, Kan., for a three-game MIAA series against Emporia State University beginning Friday (Apr. 12). The Gorillas and Hornets will meet under the lights at Glennen Field at 6 p.m. (CDT) Friday, before facing off in afternoon action Saturday (Apr. 13) at 1 p.m. and Sunday (Apr. 14) at Noon.
Friday's series opener can be heard on ESPN 100.7 FM radio, online at espn1007.com/go or through the ESPN 100.7 or KSHQ app for phones or mobile devices.
Pitt State brings an 18-16 overall record into the weekend series. The Gorillas, who have won four straight games, are 11-10 in the MIAA and tied for seventh place (with Missouri Western) in the MIAA standings. ESU is 20-12 overall, 14-7 in the MIAA and tied for second place in the conference (with Central Missouri).
Pitt State claimed a 3-2 non-conference victory over Northwest Missouri State University at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at Kansas City, Kan., in its most recent action Tuesday (Apr. 9).
The Gorillas enter the weekend series averaging 5.5 runs per game and batting .244 as a team. Pitt State pitchers have a 4.02 ERA with 285 strikeouts in 288.7 innings on the season and the Gorillas defense is fielding .970 on the season. Pitt State ranks second in the MIAA in team ERA and fielding percentage.
Junior outfielder Chaz Burgess leads the squad with a .333 batting average. He has six doubles, four home runs and 18 RBIs. Senior utility player Alex Achtermann also is batting .296 with three home runs and 18 RBIs, while senior third baseman John Oliver is hitting .257 with five home runs and 23 RBIs.
Senior lefthander Brad Kinsey (5-1, 3.31 ERA) and Achtermann (3-5, 4.36), a righthander, both have made 10 starts on the mound for the Gorillas. Senior righthander Brendan Stanek (2-1, 6.12 ERA) also has made seven starts for Pitt State. In the bullpen, senior righthander Dante Richardson (1-1, 3.22 ERA), redshirt freshman righthander Justin Root (1-1, 2.93 ERA) and sophomore lefthander Tanner Lane (2-3, 5 saves, 1.73 ERA) all have made 10 or more appearances.
