Gorillas to Host MIAA Series Against No. 27 Tigers

PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team will return to Al Ortolani Field for a three-game MIAA series against Fort Hays State University beginning Friday (Mar. 21).

The Gorillas and Tigers are scheduled to face off Friday at 3 p.m. (CST), Saturday (Mar. 22) at 2 p.m. and Sunday (Mar. 23) at Noon.

Pitt State enters the series 17-5 overall and 7-5 in MIAA play. The Gorillas have won four straight games after sweeping a three-game MIAA series from Northwest Missouri State University last weekend and claiming a 31-12 non-conference win over Southwest Baptist University Tuesday (Mar. 18).

Fort Hays State is 7-5 overall (12-1 MIAA). The Tigers are alone in first place in the MIAA standings. FHSU has won five straight games, including a 7-5 home victory over Washburn University Tuesday. The Tigers are ranked No. 27 in the most recent American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) NCAA Division II Top 30 poll.

As a team, the Gorillas are batting .322 and scoring 9.7 runs per game to date. Pitt State pitchers are carrying a 4.44 ERA with 213 strikeouts in 186.2 innings of work. The Gorillas have made just 20 errors in 778 total chances (.974 fielding pct.). Offensively, Pitt State leads the MIAA in batting average, runs scored, doubles (67), triples (13) and slugging percentage (.567). The Gorillas are second in the conference in RBI (196) and sixth in the league in home runs (29).

The Pitt State pitching staff ranks leads the MIAA in ERA and strikeouts (10.3 K/9 IP) and ranks second in opponent batting average (.240). Defensively, the Gorillas rank fourth in the conference to date in fielding percentage.

Senior infielder Rickey Sanchez is batting a team-leading .450 with 29 runs scored, 10 doubles, three home runs and 21 RBI. Sanchez (Mexico City) ranks third in the conference in batting average, fifth in the conference in runs scored and tied for fifth place in doubles.

Junior infielder/designated hitter Dagen Brewer has a .345/.418/.833 slash line to date. The Topeka native has 11 doubles, 10 home runs and 42 RBI to his credit. He tied the school single game record with nine RBI in the win vs. SBU Tuesday. Brewer currently leads the MIAA in RBI, ranks second in RBI and slugging and tied for third in doubles.

Graduate outfielder Alex Rodgers (.373/.543/.587) has scored a team-leading 39 runs and stolen 13 bases. He leads the MIAA in runs scored and triples (4) and ranks second in the league in stolen bases.

Pitt State starting pitchers Kolby Dougan (5-0, 1.89 ERA), Maddox Thornton (4-1, 2.97) and Tanner Leslie (1-2, 6.13 ERA) are a combined 10-3 with a 3.36 ERA in 96.3 innings of work following each pitcher's first six starts of the young season.

Dougan, a graduate RHP, garnered NCAA Division II National Pitcher of the Week 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 eight runs and 14 hits in 38.0 innings pitched this season, while allowing just 12 walks and registering 69 strikeouts. He leads the MIAA and Division II in strikeouts (16.34 Ks/9 IP) and leads the MIAA and ranks fifth nationally in WHIP (0.68). Dougan also leads the league in opponent batting average (.112).

Thornton, a graduate RHP, has allowed 36 hits and six walks in 33.1 IP. The Bentonville, Ark., native has registered 30 strikeouts so far.

Senior RHP Brady Pacha also is 4-1 with a 4.32 ERA and one save in eight appearances, one start. He has allowed just seven hits in 16.2 IP. Pacha (Wichita) has 18 strikeouts to his credit.

Senior RHPs Cadyn Castellanos (0-0, 4.11 ERA) and Boston Dowd (0-0, 3.48 ERA) have been effective out of the Pitt State bullpen. Castellanos (Murrieta, Calif.) has 19 Ks in 15.1 innings pitched. He's allowed 15 hits and just two walks in nine appearances, while Dowd (Anderson, Mo.) has surrendered four runs with 12 strikeouts in 10.1 innings of work in seven 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

#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

#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