PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team will travel to Edmond, Okla, to open the 2020 season at the Edmond First Pitch Classic. The Gorillas will play four games in three days beginning Friday (Jan. 31).

Pitt State will make its season debut at 10 a.m. (CST) Friday against Southwestern Oklahoma State University and then face MIAA rival Emporia State University in a non-conference contest at 4 p.m. Friday. The Gorillas will face Henderson State University at 4 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 1) and wrap up the weekend action with a 10 a.m. game against Northwestern Oklahoma State University Sunday (Feb. 2).

The Gorillas return seven position players that started 20 or more games in 2019 as well as two pitchers with 10 or more appearances on the mound.  Pitt State posted a 31-21 overall record in 2019, including a 20-13 mark in MIAA play. The Gorillas finished fourth in the conference standings.

The Gorillas return a pair of All-MIAA performers in senior infielder Tyson Cushman and junior pitcher Tanner Lane. Cushman started 43 of 49 games played in 2019, primarily at shortstop, batting .262 with six doubles and 18 RBIs. He carried a .963 fielding percentage, making just seven errors among 189 total chances. Lane made 27 relief appearances for the Gorillas, posting a 2-3 record with 13 saves and a team-low 2.06 ERA. He walked 11 batters and registered 40 strikeouts in 39.3 innings pitched.

Senior infielder/designated hitter Reece Garvie, an All-MIAA performer as a junior in 2018, also returns following an injury shortened 2019 campaign. He batted .400 with seven doubles, three home runs and 13 RBIs in 11 games a year ago. Garvie hit .355 with 11 doubles, four home runs and 40 RBIs during his junior campaign.
 
The Gorillas are under the direction of second-year head coach Bob Fornelli. Fornelli has a 936-400 record in 23 seasons as a collegiate coach. He compiled a 599-266 record in 15 years at MIAA rival Emporia State (2004-18). Prior to that, he posted a 306-113 record in seven years at Fort Hays State University.