PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team will the 2023 MIAA schedule by hosting Missouri Southern State University in a three-game series beginning Friday (Feb. 24).
 
The Gorillas and Lions will meet at 3 p.m. (CST) Friday at Al Ortolani Field and then face off at 2 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 25) and Noon Sunday (Feb. 26).
 
Pitt State will bring an 8-4 record into the weekend action. The Gorillas dropped a 9-1 road decision against Oklahoma Baptist University in their most recent action Tuesday (Feb. 22). MSSU is 9-4 overall after posting a 13-4 home win against Drury University Tuesday.
 
The Gorillas are batting .308 on the young season and scoring 8.6 runs per game. Pitt State's pitching staff currently sports a 6.89 ERA and the squad has a .968 fielding percentage to date. The Gorillas opponents are hitting .270 and scoring 7.4 runs per game. The opposition has an 8.87 ERA and a .984 fielding percentage to date.
 
Junior infielder Cade Clemons leads the squad with a .394 batting average. He has three doubles, a triple, one home run and eight RBI to his credit. Junior catcher Nixon Brannan in hitting .356 with three doubles, four home runs and a team-leading 18 RBI. Junior outfielder Brevon Lee is batting .310 with two doubles, two home runs and 10 RBI. He's a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen base attempts.
 
Graduate LHP Zac Shoemaker (2-0, 0.75 ERA), sophomore RHP Cason Long (0-1, 5.79 ERA and junior LHP Ben Des Rosiers (1-0, 6.08 ERA) are expected to make starts on the mound this weekend.
 
Sophomore RHP Tanner Leslie is 2-0 with a 0.84 ERA and one save in 10.2 innings of relief work to date. Sophomore RHP Andrew Wisner is 0-0 with a 2.25 ERA and two saves in four relief appearances.