PITTSBURG -- The Pittsburg State University baseball team pounded out 20 hits and Zac Shoemaker limited the University of Sioux Falls to a pair of hits in five solid innings on the mound as the Gorillas beat the visiting Cougars, 23-2, Friday (Feb. 17) at Al Ortolani Field.
Shoemaker (2-0) fanned 10 batters and allowed just a pair of single and a walk while holding USF (0-2) at bay offensively. The Gorillas smacked 15 extra-base hits - 11 doubles, two triples and two home runs - among their 20 total hits.
Nixon Brannon continued his torrid hitting pace coming up a triple short of the cycle. He went 3-for-4 in the contest with a double, home run and three RBI. Trey McClelland added a grand slam as part of the Gorillas (6-2) six-run sixth inning. Brett Daley also went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple and four RBI.
Deagan Brady, Karson Coffee and Ryan Koval all had two hits each, while Brady, Coffee and Brevon Lee each collected two RBI. Brady scored four runs, while Brannon and Austin Warkins scored three times each.
Harold Baez and Chase Terrell each pitched an inning behind Shoemaker in the run-rule shortened seven-inning game.
Pitt State will face Metro State Saturday (Feb. 18) at approximately 3 p.m. Metro State and USF will open the day with a Noon contest. Metro State beat USF, 21-11, in an early game Friday at Al Ortolani Field.
