Dominant Pitching Paces Pitt State in MIAA Sweep

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team swept a pair of games from Northwest Missouri State University Saturday (Mar. 15). The Gorillas defeated the Bearcats, 5-0 and 9-5, at Al Ortolani Field.

In game one, starting pitcher Maddox Thornton and relievers Cadyn Castellanos and Ryan Leiker combined on a six-hit shutout. Thornton (4-1) tossed 7.0 scoreless innings, limiting NWMSU to five hits. He allowed one walk and recorded four strikeouts.

Rickey Sanchez provided the big spark at the plate for Pitt State. He went 4-for-4 with a double, a home run and five RBI. Alex Rodgers also went 4-for-5 with a triple, two stolen bases and three runs scored.

The Gorillas scored three runs apiec in the third and seventh frames to take control in the contest.

In game two, starter Kolby Dougan improved to 5-0 on the season with six effective innings pitched. He allowed just one run on one hit in the contest, issuing three walks and registering 11 strikeouts.

Pitt State (15-5, 6-5 MIAA) scored two runs in the bottom of the first and the Gorillas stretched their margin to 8-1 after back-to-back two-run frames in the fifth and sixth innings.

Nixon Brannan led Pitt State's 10-hit attack by going 3-for-4 with three RBI. Drew Bugner also doubles and knocked in a pair of runs.

Pitt State and NWMSU (9-11, 3-5 MIAA) will close out the three-game series with a Noon (CST) game Sunday (Mar. 16).

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Players Mentioned

#29 Nixon Brannan: C; 6' 1"; Senior; R/R

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

#12 Drew Bugner: INF; 6' 2"; Junior; R/R

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

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

#30 Ryan Leiker: RHP; 6' 2"; 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

#29 Nixon Brannan
: 6' 1"; Senior; R/R
: C

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

#12 Drew Bugner
: 6' 2"; Junior; R/R
: INF

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

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

#30 Ryan Leiker
: 6' 2"; Junior; R/R
: RHP

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

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