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Derek Livingston

Baseball

Gorillas Set to Battle in Semifinals of 2021 MIAA Baseball Championship


PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team will open play in the semifinal round of the 2021 MIAA Baseball Championship, presented by Mammoth Construction, on Thursday (May 20).
 
The No. 4 seed Gorillas will meet the top seed and MIAA regular season champion University of Central Missouri at Noon (CDT) Thursday at Warren Turner Field on the campus of Missouri Southern State University at Joplin, Mo.
 
Thursday's second game has No. 6 seed University of Central Oklahoma facing No. 7 seed Rogers State University at approximately 4 p.m.
 
The three-day double elimination tournament continues Friday (May 21) and Saturday (May 22).
 
Pitt State (28-14) advanced to the semifinal round by taking two of three games in a quarterfinal round series against fifth-seeded Washburn University last weekend at Al Ortolani Field.
 
UCM is 36-6 on the season and ranked No. 2 in the most recent NCBWA NCAA Division II Top 25 poll. The Mules swept their quarterfinal series against eighth-seeded Emporia State University.
 
UCO (23-19) and RSU (20-20) both scored upsets in first-round series against Missouri Southern and Northeastern State University, respectively.
 
Day passes for the MIAA Baseball Championship are $10, while a Weekend Pass is available for $25. The weekend pass only is available for purchase Thursday. Tickets will be sold online and at the gate. Gates open one hour prior to the first game of each day's scheduled action.
 
Single day walk-up tickets for the quarterfinal round series are $5. Gates open and tickets are available for purchase one hour prior to first pitch each day.

Pitt State is making its 12th all-time MIAA Baseball Championship appearance since 1991. The Gorillas have compiled a 21-21 record in MIAA Tournament play, capturing the 1999 MIAA Baseball Championship.
 
The Gorillas and Mules have met seven times previously in MIAA Tournament action. UCM holds a slim, 4-3, advantage in postseason play. Pitt State defeated UCM, 8-7, in the 1999 MIAA Tournament Championship Game at Warrensburg, Mo.
 
Pitt State is 1-1 against UCO in MIAA Tournament play, while the Gorillas and Hillcats have not met in the postseason previously.
 
Pitt State enters the weekend action batting .287 as a team and scoring 7.3 runs per game. The Gorillas pitchers sport a 5.21 ERA and defensively Pitt State has a .974 fielding percentage. The Gorillas rank third in the MIAA in fielding, fourth in the conference in run scored, and fifth in the league in batting average and ERA.
 
Nine members of the Pitt State squad earned All-MIAA honors on May 12 following a vote of the conference head coaches.
 
Junior utility player Dawson Pomeroy earned first-team All-MIAA honors, while junior starting pitcher David Henderson and freshman outfielder Ryan Koval garnered second-team All-MIAA accolades. Junior second baseman Mason Hartman and sophomore outfielder Aaron Gerdes were named to the third-team All-MIAA squad, while junior shortstop Cruz Aranda, junior starting pitcher Peyton Ingalls, junior first baseman Garrett McGowan and junior relief pitcher Justin Root all received honorable mention All-MIAA recognition.
 
In addition to his All-MIAA honors, Gerdes also was named to the MIAA Gold Glove squad.
 
Pomeroy (Topeka) has started 36 games for the Gorillas, batting .275 with 26 runs scored, five doubles, six home runs and 23 RBIs. On the mound, he has made 11 relief appearances, posting a 2-0 record with six saves and a 1.62 ERA.
 
Henderson (Lenexa, Kan.) has made 13 starts on the mound for the Gorillas, posting a 7-4 record with a 3.53 ERA. He has allowed just 61 hits in 71.3 innings and registered 63 strikeouts.
 
Koval (Olathe, Kan.) has started 41 games. He's hitting .331 with 36 runs scored, 11 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 33 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. He ranks in a tie for third place in the MIAA in triples this season.
 
Hartman (Wichita) has started 40 games and batted .247 with 32 runs scored, three doubles, 10 RBIs and a team-leading 19 stolen bases. He ranks second in the MIAA in stolen bases this season.
 
Gerdes (Omaha, Neb.) is sporting a team-leading .367 batting average with 25 runs scored, nine doubles, three home runs and 25 RBIs in 38 games played. He has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 79 total chances in the outfield.
 
Aranda (Salina, Kan.) has started all 42 games for the Gorillas, batting .322 with 39 runs scored, four doubles, two home runs, 35 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. He ranks third in the MIAA in stolen bases.
 
Ingalls (Parker, Colo.) has a 6-1 record with a 5.56 ERA on the year. He's made 15 appearances, 11 starts, and recorded 51 strikeouts in 55.0 innings of work.

McGowan (Blue Springs, Mo.) has started 41 games for the Gorillas, batting .272 with a team-leading 43 runs scored, 14 home runs and 46 RBIs. He second in the MIAA in home runs, fourth in the league in RBIs and eighth in the conference in run scored.
 
Root (Lee's Summit, Mo.) has made a team-leading 19 pitching appearances on the season. He has a 3-1 record with two saves and a 3.02 ERA in 41.7 innings of work.

2021 MIAA Baseball Championship Schedule

May 20-22 | Joplin, Mo. | Warren Turner Field
 
 
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