PITTSBURG — Cole Askew struck out the University of Central Oklahoma's Carson Carpenter with the tying run at second base to help seal the Pittsburg State University baseball team's 6-5 win over the Bronchos Friday (Mar. 22).

The Gorillas (19-8, 10-4 MIAA) scored six runs in the pivotal fourth inning as UCO pitchers issued six bases on balls and hit a batter all with two outs in the frame.

Tanner Leslie (5-1) picked up his fifth win of the season the mound. He allowed three runs in 6.2 innings of work. He limited the Bronchos (22-6, 9-5 MIAA) to four hits and registered five strikeouts. Cadyn Castellanos worked 2.0 innings of relief action behind Leslie before giving way to Askew, who picked up his fourth save of the season, with two outs in the ninth.

The Gorillas (17-5, 8-2 MIAA) scored four runs in the first inning and four more in the third frame to take an 8-0 lead against the Hornets (12-12, 3-7 MIAA). ESU countered with four runs in its half of the third and three more runs in the fourth inning to get back into the ball game.

Cole Askew picked up his second save of the season by fanning ESU's Logan Myers with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning to seal the win, Pitt State's seventh straight victory.

Dylan Kurahashi-Choy Foo, Cade Clemons and Daegan Brady all went 1-for-3 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI.

The Gorillas and Bronchos will resume the three-game MIAA series with a 2 p.m. (CDT) Saturday (Mar. 23) at Al Ortolani Field.