No. 20 Gorillas Face Key MIAA Road Series Against No. 4 UCM

PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team will travel to Warrensburg, Mo., for a three-game MIAA series beginning Friday (Feb. 28).

The Gorillas and Mules are scheduled to face off Friday at 3 p.m. (CST) at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field, Saturday (Mar. 1) at 2 p.m. and Sunday (Mar. 2) at 1 p.m.

Pitt State enters the series 10-1 overall and 2-1 in MIAA play. The Gorillas posted an 11-5 non-conference road win over Rockhurst University Wednesday (Feb. 26) at Kansas City, Mo. Pitt State took two of three games from Emporia State University in its MIAA opening series against the Hornets Sunday and Monday (Feb. 23-24).

UCM is 9-2 overall (3-0 MIAA). The Mules, who swept a three-game MIAA series against Missouri Western State University Sunday and Monday, scored a 7-6 non-conference win over Maryville University in their most recent action Wednesday.

Pitt State debuted at No. 20 in the most recent National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA) Top 25 poll released Wednesday. The Gorillas are off to the best start to a season in school history with their 10-1 mark. UCM slid one spot to No. 3 in Wednesday's poll after landing at No. 3 the week prior. The Mules also are ranked No. 4 in the most recent American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Division II Top 30 poll, while the Gorillas landed at the top of the "others receiving votes" list.

As a team, the Gorillas are batting .319 and scoring 9.5 runs per game to date. Pitt State pitchers are carrying a 2.81 ERA with 119 strikeouts in 93 inning of work. The Gorillas have made just seven errors in 376 total chances (.981 fielding pct.). Offensively, Pitt State leads the MIAA in runs scored (104), batting average, slugging percentage (.610) and RBI (93). The Gorillas rank second in both doubles (38) and home runs (16).

The Pitt State pitching staff carries an MIAA low ERA and the Gorillas have limited their opposition to a league low .202 BA. Pitt State also registers an MIAA best 11.52 Ks/9 IP to date. Defensively, the Gorillas rank fourth in the conference to date in fielding percentage.

Senior outfielder Josh Holmes leads the Pitt State offense with a .444 batting average. He's 12-for-27 at the plate with six doubles, two home runs and seven RBI. The Lenexa, Kan., native has scored 10 runs and has a team-leading .963 slugging percentage.

Graduate infielder Rickey Sanchez is batting .395 with 11 runs scored, three doubles, two home runs and 11 RBI. Sanchez (Mexico City) went 4-for-6 with a double, a home run, three runs scored and three RBI vs. Rockhurst Wednesday.

Junior infielder/designate hitter Dagen Brewer has a .375/.400/.900 slash line to date. The Topeka native leads the MIAA with nine doubles and 21 RBI. He also ranks third in the conference with four home runs to date.

Graduate outfielder Alex Rodgers (.313/.560/.594) has scored a team-leading 18 runs and stolen seven bases. The Omaha, Neb., native shares the MIAA lead in triples (3) and ranks second in both runs scored and stolen bases.

Pitt State starting pitchers Kolby Dougan (3-0, 0.50 ERA), Maddox Thornton (3-0, 1.15) and Tanner Leslie (1-1, 5.73 ERA) are a combined 7-1 with a 1.42 ERA in 39.7 innings of work following each pitcher's first three 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 five hits in 18.0 innings pitched this season, while allowing just three walks and registering 39 strikeouts. He leads the MIAA in ERA, strikeouts and opponent BA (.085).

Thornton, a graduate RHP, has allowed 13 hits and two walks in 15.2 IP. The Bentonville, Ark., native has registered 15 strikeouts so far. Thornton and Dougan share the MIAA lead, with two other pitchers, in victories.

Senior RHP Brady Pacha also is 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA in three appearances, one start. He has allowed just four hits and four walks in 10.0 IP (0.80 WHIP). Pacha (Wichita) has 10 strikeouts to his credit.

Senior RHPs Cadyn Castellanos (0-0, 1.00 ERA) and Boston Dowd (0-0, 1.17 ERA) have been highly effective out of the Pitt State bullpen. Castellanos (Murrieta, Calif.) has 15 Ks in 9.0 innings pitched. He's allowed just four hits and a walk in four appearances, while Dowd (Anderson, Mo.) has surrendered just one run with nine strikeouts in 7.2 innings of work in four 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

#1 Rickey Sanchez: INF; 5' 8"; Senior; R/R

#4 Alex Rodgers: OF; 6' 0"; Graduate Student; R/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

#1 Rickey Sanchez
: 5' 8"; Senior; R/R
: INF

#4 Alex Rodgers
: 6' 0"; Graduate Student; R/R
: OF

#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