PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team will travel to Joplin, Mo., to face Missouri Southern State University in a three-game MIAA series beginning Friday (Apr. 26). The Gorillas and Lions will meet under the lights at Warren Turner Field at 6 p.m. (CDT) Friday , before facing off in afternoon action Saturday (Apr. 27) at 2 p.m. and Sunday (Apr. 20) at 1 p.m.
Pitt State brings a 23-18 overall record into the weekend series. The Gorillas, who have won nine of their last 11 games, are 15-12 in the MIAA and tied for fifth place (with Lindenwood and Missouri Western) in the MIAA standings. MSSU is 29-14 overall, 20-7 in the MIAA and alone atop the conference standings (one game ahead of Central Missouri).
Pitt State took two of three games from Missouri Western in a weekend series at Al Ortolani Field. The Gorillas dropped a 7-3 decision to the Griffons in the series opener, before bouncing back to claim 7-4 and 14-10 victories against Western.
The Gorillas enter the weekend series averaging 5.7 runs per game and batting .245 as a team. Pitt State pitchers have a 4.16 ERA with 337 strikeouts in 361.7 innings on the season and the Gorillas defense is fielding .973 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 .298 batting average. He has seven doubles, six home runs and 21 RBIs in 32 games played. Senior utility player Alex Achtermann also is batting .295 with three home runs and 20 RBIs, while senior third baseman John Oliver is hitting .256 with six home runs and 34 RBIs.
Senior lefthander Brad Kinsey (5-2, 3.51 ERA) and Achtermann (4-5, 3.93), a righthander, both have made 12 starts on the mound for the Gorillas. Senior righthander Brendan Stanek (3-1, 6.21 ERA) also has made nine starts for Pitt State. In the bullpen, senior righthander Dante Richardson (1-1, 3.42 ERA), redshirt freshman righthander Justin Root (3-1, 3.00 ERA) and sophomore lefthander Tanner Lane (2-3, 8 saves, 2.40 ERA) all have made 12 or more appearances.
