PITTSBURG — Tyson Cushman scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth inning and the Pittsburg State University baseball team held off Emporia State University, 5-4, Thursday (May 9) in the first round of the 2019 MIAA Baseball Championship at Al Ortolani Field.

The fourth-seeded Gorillas (29-19) advance to the winner's bracket where they will face top seeded University of Central Missouri Friday (May 10) at 7:30 p.m. (CDT). The Mules rallied for a 5-4 win over No. 8 seed Missouri Western State University earlier Thursday.

Alex Achtermann (7-5) allowed four runs, two earned, in 6.0 innings of work on the mound for Pitt State. He allowed six hits and five walks and fanned five batters. Achtermann blanked the Hornets (27-21) over his final three innings of work. Connor Lungwitz tossed two hitless innings of relief and Tanner Lane recorded the final three outs for his school record 12th save of the season.

Cushman went 2-for-4 at the plate with one run scored and two RBIs. Chaz Burgess also went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Blaim Ohlmeier and John Oliver had RBIs for the Gorillas.