PITTSBURG — Top-seeded University of Central Missouri scored the go-ahead run with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning to claim a 5-4 victory over Pittsburg State University in day two action of the 2019 MIAA Baseball Championship Friday (May 10) at Al Ortolani Field.
The loss sends the Gorillas (29-20) into a losers' bracket match-up against Missouri Western at 4:30 p.m. (CDT) Saturday (May 11). The Mules (36-13) advance to a 12:30 p.m. contest against the winner of an elimination game between Missouri Southern and Lindenwood.
Pitt State jumped out to a 3-1 third inning lead against UCM, but the Mules rallied with three unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-3 lead. The Gorillas knotted the score at 4-4 in the top of the fifth inning.
John Oliver went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in the contest, while Alex Achtermann scored three runs. Ty Herrenbruck and Chaz Burgess also had RBIs for Pitt State.
Brad Kinsey (7-3) took the hard luck loss for the Gorillas. Kinsey allowed five runs, two earned, in 7 1/3 innings of work.