PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team will open a three-game MIAA series against the Rogers State University Friday (Apr. 8). First pitch is set for 6 p.m. (CST) at Al Ortolani Field.
 
The Gorillas and Hillcats also will play a 2 p.m. game Saturday (Apr. 9) and a Noon game Sunday (Apr. 10). Pitt State will recognize its outgoing senior class during pregame ceremonies Sunday.
                                                                                      
The Gorillas will bring a 21-11 overall record and a 15-5 mark in MIAA play into the weekend series. The Gorillas are alone in second place in the MIAA standings, trailing only No. 4 ranked University of Central Missouri (26-4, 19-1 MIAA). Pitt State has won 15 of its last 19 contests.
 
Rogers State is 18-15 overall and 11-8 in MIAA play. The Hillcats have won three straight games, including a 15-0 non-conference victory over East Central (Okla.) University Wednesday (Apr. 6) at Claremore, Okla.
 
For the season, the Gorillas are batting .328 as a team and scoring 9.7 runs per game. Pitt State leads the MIAA in batting average and runs scored. The Gorillas rank seventh in NCAA Division II in runs scored per game (9.66 pg) and 21^st nationally in batting average.
 
Pitt State's pitching staff carries an 6.63 ERA (10^th in the MIAA), while registering 239 strikeouts in 271.7 innings of work. The Gorillas fielders sport a .970 fielding percentage, the best defensive percentage in the MIAA to date.
 
The opposition is hitting .282 against the Gorillas thus far and scoring 7.5 runs per game. Opponent pitchers have a 9.37 ERA.
 
RSU is hitting .291 as a team to date and scoring 7.3 runs per game. The Hilltcats rank sixth in the MIAA in batting average and eighth in the conference in runs scored. RSU pitchers carry a 6.49 ERA to date, eighth best in the conference.
 
Senior infielder Garrett McGowan is hitting .391 with 41 runs scored, 10 doubles, 14 home runs and 57 RBI. He leads the MIAA in home runs and RBI, ranks third in the conference in runs scored and sixth in the league in batting average. McGowan ranks third in NCAA Division II in RBI (57).
 
Senior outfielder Jordan Maxson is batting a team-high .412 with 35 runs scored, nine doubles, 12 home runs and 36 RBI. He ranks second in the MIAA in batting average and tied for seventh in home runs.
 
Senior infielder Mason Hartman is hitting .358 with 35 runs scored, five triples and 16 RBI. He's also stolen a team-leading 14 bases on the season. Hartman is tied for second in the MIAA in triples and fifth overall in stolen bases.
 
Senior lefthander Tanner Lane (3-2, 4.87 ERA), senior righthander Peyton Ingalls (4-1, 6.04 ERA) and sophomore righthander Brett Wiemers (1-0, 7.97 ERA) all started for the Gorillas in the UCO series last week.
 
Following the weekend series, the Gorillas will travel to Emporia, Kan., Tuesday (Apr. 12) to face Emporia State University in a 5 p.m. game.