PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team will return to the friendly confines of Al Ortolani Field to host Emporia State University Tuesday (Apr. 11). First pitch is set for 5 p.m. (CDT).

Pitt State will bring a 26-11 overall record (17-6 MIAA) into Tuesday's action. The Gorillas posted a 3-1 record last week, including taking two of three games in an MIAA series against Rogers State University at Claremore, Okla.

Emporia State is 15-23 overall and 9-14 in MIAA play after dropping two of three games in an MIAA series against Newman University last week.

The Gorillas and Hornets have split a pair of one-run decisions earlier this season. Pitt State beat ESU, 9-8, in Pittsburg on Mar. 14; and the Hornets downed the Gorillas, 8-7, at Emporia on Mar. 28.

The Gorillas enter the midweek game batting .317 on the season and scoring 9.2 runs per game. Pitt State's pitching staff currently sports a 6.18 ERA and the squad has a .971 fielding percentage to date. The Gorillas opponents are hitting .270 and scoring 6.8 runs per game. The opposition has an 8.41 ERA and a .965 fielding percentage to date.

The Gorillas rank second in the MIAA in runs scored and fourth in the conference in batting average.

Junior catcher Nixon Brannon leads the squad with a .442 batting average. He has 17 doubles, 14 home runs and 61 RBI to his credit. Brannan leads the MIAA in batting average, doubles and RBI and ranks second in the league in home runs. He currently ranks second in D2 in RBI per game (1.79 pg).

Junior infielder Cade Clemons is hitting .348 with 38 runs scored, nine doubles, two triples, 13 home runs and 38 RBI. Junior outfielder Karson Coffee also is batting .364 with 16 doubles, five home runs and 29 RBI.