Gorillas Set to Host Hornets in Midweek Action

PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team will play host to its MIAA travel partner, Emporia State University, in a Tuesday (Mar. 26) match-up. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. (CDT) at Al Ortolani Field.

This will be game two of three midweek contests slated between the Gorillas and Hornets. Pitt State defeated ESU, 12-10, at Emporia, Kan., on Mar. 12. The two squads also will play at Emporia on Apr. 9.

Pitt State is 20-9 overall (11-5 MIAA) after taking two of three games in an MIAA weekend series against No. 25 University of Central Oklahoma. ESU comes in at 15-16 overall and 6-10 in MIAA play. The Hornets dropped two of three games against Northeastern State University last weekend.

As a team, Pitt State is hitting .308 and scoring 8.4 runs per game. The Gorillas have smacked 71 doubles and 49 home runs and stolen 37 bases to date. Pitt State pitchers have a 4.57 ERA registering 209 strikeouts in 240.1 innings pitched. Defensively, the Gorillas have a .980 fielding percentage with just 20 errors in 988 total chances. Pitt State ranks second in the MIAA in fielding percentage and third in the conference in ERA. The Gorillas are fourth in the league in batting average and fifth in runs scored.

Graduate infielder Dylan Kurahashi-Choy Foo has a team-leading .375 batting average with 36 hits in 96 at-bats on the season. Choy Foo, who ranks ninth in the MIAA in batting average, has 14 doubles, five home runs home runs and 29 RBI to his credit.

Senior catcher Nixon Brannan is hitting .361 with eight doubles, nine home runs and 28 RBI on the season, while senior infielder Cade Clemons is batting .298 with 25 runs scored, eight home runs and 28 RBI. Junior infielder Austin Warkins is batting .315 with 23 runs scored, six home runs and 23 RBI. Brannan is fifth in the MIAA in home runs, while Clemons is tied for sixth place in the category.

Junior right-hander Brett Wiemers (1-0, 3.00) and senior RHP Christian Spitz (0-0, 9.18 ERA) have each made two midweek starts this season.

Junior RHP Cole Askew (0-0, 4.26 ERA, 4 Saves) has made a team-leading 13 relief appearances for the Gorillas, while junior RHP Cadyn Castellanos (4-1, 4.03 ERA) has appeared in 10 games. Junior RHP Boston Dowd (3-0, 1.50) also had made eight relief appearances with 17 strikeouts and a 0.67 WHIP in 18.0 innings of work (nine hits, three walks).

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