PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team will open a three-game MIAA series against Fort Hays State University Friday (Mar. 25). First pitch is set for 5 p.m. (CST) at Al Ortolani Field.
 
The Gorillas and Tigers will also play a 2 p.m. game Saturday (Mar. 26) and a Noon game Sunday (Mar. 27).
 
Pitt State will bring a 15-9 overall record and a 10-3 mark in MIAA play into the weekend series. The Gorillas are currently tied for second place in the MIAA standings with Washburn University, trailing only No. 6 ranked University of Central Missouri (19-3, 13-0 MIAA)
 
Fort Hays State is 3-22 overall and 2-11 in MIAA play. The Tigers, who have lost eight of their last nine games, are seeking to halt a three-game losing streak entering Friday's match-up.
 
Through 24 games, the Gorillas are batting .330 as a team and scoring 9.8 runs per game. Pitt State leads the MIAA in runs scored and ranks third in batting average.
 
Pitt State's pitching staff carries an 7.32 ERA (9^th in the MIAA), while registering 182 strikeouts in 201.7 innings of work. The Gorillas fielders sport a .972 fielding percentage, the second-best percentage in the MIAA to date.
 
The opposition is hitting .293 against the Gorillas thus far and scoring 8.2 runs per game. Opponent pitchers have a 9.44 ERA.
 
FHSU is hitting .221 as a team to date, scoring 4.4 runs per game. The Tigers rank last in the MIAA in hitting and runs scored. FHSU pitchers carry an MIAA worst 8.69 ERA to date.
 
Senior infielder Garrett McGowan is hitting .409 with 35 runs scored, 13 home runs and 38 RBI, all team highs. He leads the MIAA in home runs, ranks second in the conference in RBI and fourth in the league in batting average.
 
Senior outfielder Jordan Maxson is hitting a team-best .417 with eight doubles, 10 home runs and 32 RBI. He currently ranks third in the MIAA in batting average and fourth in the league in home runs.
 
Senior lefthander Tanner Lane (2-1, 5.57 ERA), senior righthander Peyton Ingalls (2-1, 7.79 ERA) and senior righthander Zach Curry (1-2, 7.77 ERA) all started for the Gorillas in the NSU series last week.
 
Following the weekend series, the Gorillas will host Emporia State University at 5 p.m. Tuesday (Mar. 29) before hosting a three-game MIAA series against the University of Central Oklahoma starting Friday, Apr. 1.