PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team will travel to Hays, Kan., to face Fort Hays State University in a three-game MIAA series beginning Friday (May 3). The Gorillas and Tiger will meet under the lights at Lark Park at 7 p.m. (CDT) Friday , before facing off in afternoon action Saturday (May 4) at 2 p.m. and Sunday (May 5) at Noon.

Pitt State brings a 25-19 overall record into the final weekend series of the regular season. The Gorillas, who have won 11 of their last 14 games, are 17-13 in the MIAA and tied for fifth place (with Lindenwood) in the MIAA standings. FHSU is 3-37 overall and 2-28 in the MIAA.

Pitt State took two of three games from Missouri Southern in a weekend series at Joplin, Mo. The Gorillas claimed 4-1 and 9-4 decisions to open the series before dropping an 8-4 decision in the series finale.

The Gorillas enter the weekend series averaging 5.7 runs per game and batting .244 as a team. Pitt State pitchers have a 4.16 ERA with 363 strikeouts in 387.7 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.

Senior utility player Alex Achtermann leads the squad with a .295 batting average. He has six doubles, three home runs and 21 RBIs in 41 games played. Senior catcher/designated hitter Caleb Cox also is batting .278 with three home runs and 20 RBIs in 33 games played, while senior third baseman John Oliver is hitting .253 with six home runs and 35 RBIs.

Senior lefthander Brad Kinsey (6-2, 3.75 ERA) and Achtermann (5-5, 3.74), a righthander, both have made 13 starts on the mound for the Gorillas. Senior righthander Brendan Stanek (3-2, 6.45 ERA) also has made 10 starts for Pitt State. In the bullpen, senior righthander Dante Richardson (1-1, 3.21 ERA), redshirt freshman righthander Justin Root (3-1, 2.89 ERA) and sophomore lefthander Tanner Lane (2-3, 10 saves, 2.18 ERA) all have made 13 or more appearances.