PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team will host MIAA rival Missouri Southern State University in a three-game series beginning Saturday (Apr. 24). The two squads will play a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. (CDT) Saturday at Al Ortolani Field and then wrap up the series with a solo game starting at 1 p.m. Sunday (Apr. 25). 

The Gorillas enter the series with a 19-11 overall record and a 14-10 mark in MIAA play. The Gorillas currently sit in fourth place in the MIAA standings entering the series. Missouri Southern sports a 24-7 overall record (17-7 MIAA). The Lions are tied for second in the MIAA standings (with Northeastern State) and ranked No. 19 in the most recent NCBWA NCAA Division II Top 25 poll.

Pitt State is hitting .292 at the plate this season and averages 7.7 runs per game. On the mound, the Gorillas hold a 5.44 ERA. 

Sophomore outfielder Aaron Gerdes leads the offensive attack for the Gorillas with a .364 batting average. Gerdes has posted 28 hits, including seven doubles, one triple and one home run. Junior first baseman Garrett McGowan has a team-leading nine home runs, 34 RBIs and 34 runs scored.  

 Junior right handed pitcher David Henderson leads the Gorillas pitching staff with a 2.98 ERA. Henderson has posted a 6-2 record with 44 strikeouts in 48.3 innings of work.