Gorillas to Open MIAA Play Against Hornets Sunday

PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team will open MIAA play by hosting Emporia State University Sunday and Monday (Feb. 23-24) .

The Gorillas and Hornets will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. (CST) Sunday at Al Ortolani Field; and the two squads will wrap up the three-game series with a 1 p.m. game Monday.

Pitt State is 7-0 on the young season. The Gorillas have been idle, due to inclement weather, since Feb. 9 when Pitt State completed a four-game series sweep of Truman State University. The Gorillas opened the season by posting a 3-0 record at the Edmond First Pitch Classic, Jan. 31 – Feb. 2.

Emporia State is 4-3 on the season. The Hornets are seeking to halt a three-game slide after opening the year 4-0. ESU dropped a 5-3 decision to Henderson State University in its most recent outing on Feb. 9 at Arkadelphia, Ark.

As a team, the Gorillas are batting .302 and scoring 9.1 runs per game to date. Pitt State pitchers are carrying a 1.37 ERA with 78 strikeouts in 59 inning of work. The Gorillas have made just four errors in 245 total chances (.984 fielding pct.).

Junior infielder Dagen Brewer leads the Pitt State offense with a .476 batting average. He has collected 10 hits in 21 at-bats to date, with seven doubles and one home runs among his hit total. Brewer (Topeka) has scored six runs and driven in a team-leading 11 runs.

Senior outfielder Josh Holmes (Lenexa, Kan.) also is hitting .436 (7-for-16) with two doubles, two home runs and four RBI in six games played.

Senior infielder Kadyn Williams also carries a .429 batting average (9-for-21) into the series. He has scored 10 runs, smacked two home runs and compiled nine RBI to date. A three-time All-MIAA performer, Williams (Emporia, Kan.) transferred to Pitt State from Emporia State.

Pitt State starting pitchers Kolby Dougan (2-0, 0.75 ERA), Maddox Thornton (2-0, 0.84) and Tanner Leslie (1-0, 3.00 ERA) are a combined 5-0 with a 1.42 ERA in 39.7 innings of work following each pitcher's first two starts of the young season.

Dougan, a graduate RHP, garnered NCAA Division II National Pitcher of the Year on Feb. 13 after he fired a complete-game one hitter and tied a school record with 16 strikeouts in a 12-0 victory over Truman State on Feb. 8. The Topeka native has allowed just one run and three hits in 12.0 innings pitched this season, while allowing just three walks and registering 28 strikeouts.

Thornton, a graduate RHP, has allowed nine hits and one walk in 10.7 IP. The Bentonville, Ark., native has registered seven strikeouts so far.

Senior RHP Brady Pacha also is 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in two appearances, one start. He has allowed just two hits and one walk in 9.0 IP (0.33 WHIP). Pacha (Wichita) has nine strikeouts to his credit.

Senior RHPs Boston Dowd (0-0, 0.00 ERA) and Cadyn Castellanos (0-0, 1.50 ERA) has been highly effective out of the Pitt State bullpen. Dowd (Anderson, Mo.) has tossed 4.0 scoreless innings with five strikeouts in a pair of appearances, while Castellanos (Murrieta, Calif.) has 11 Ks in 6.0 innings pitched. He's allowed just two hits and a walk in three appearances.

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Players Mentioned

#7 Tanner Leslie: RHP; 6' 1"; Senior; R/R

#24 Brady Pacha: RHP; 6' 3"; Senior; R/R

#26 Boston Dowd: RHP; 6' 3"; Senior; R/R

#16 Cayden Castellanos: RHP; 6' 0"; Senior; R/R

#8 Josh Holmes: OF; 6' 1"; Senior; R/R

#2 Kadyn Williams: INF; 5' 9"; Senior; L/R

#6 Dagen Brewer: INF; 5' 10"; Junior; R/R

#20 Kolby Dougan: RHP; 5' 11"; Graduate Student; R/R

#17 Maddox Thornton: RHP; 6' 2"; Graduate Student; R/R

Players Mentioned

#7 Tanner Leslie
: 6' 1"; Senior; R/R
: RHP

#24 Brady Pacha
: 6' 3"; Senior; R/R
: RHP

#26 Boston Dowd
: 6' 3"; Senior; R/R
: RHP

#16 Cayden Castellanos
: 6' 0"; Senior; R/R
: RHP

#8 Josh Holmes
: 6' 1"; Senior; R/R
: OF

#2 Kadyn Williams
: 5' 9"; Senior; L/R
: INF

#6 Dagen Brewer
: 5' 10"; Junior; R/R
: INF

#20 Kolby Dougan
: 5' 11"; Graduate Student; R/R
: RHP

#17 Maddox Thornton
: 6' 2"; Graduate Student; R/R
: RHP