JOPLIN, Mo. -- The Pittsburg State University baseball team scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to break a tie game and pull away for an 8-4 win over Missouri Southern State University Wednesday (Mar. 26) at Warren Turner Field.

Austin Warkins delivered the go-ahead two-run single with one out in the seventh to help turn a 3-3 game into a 5-3 advantage for the Gorillas. Hayden Dyer and Jake Skaggs had drawn back-to-back walks to open the frame against MSSU's Caden Carter (0-1)Nixon Brannan then advanced the two base runners to second and third base with a sacrifice bunt against reliever Luke Hultine. After Warkins' hit, Kaden Williams followed with a two-out triple and Alex Rodgers capped the four-run outburst with a run-scoring single.

MSSU (16-12, 9-9 MIAA) trimmed the margin to 8-5 with a run in the bottom of the seventh, but Pitt State (19-7, 9-7 MIAA) tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Williams singled home Skaggs, who was hit by pitch to open the frame.

Roy Holcomb (1-0) earned the win in relief for the Gorillas. Holcomb allowed one run in 0.2 innings of work. Cadyn Castellanos followed Holcomb and limited the Lions to one hit over 1.2 innings of work. He walked one and registered two strikeouts. Cooper Crouch recorded the final three outs for Pitt State. Starter Brady Pacha tossed 5.0 innings, allowing just two runs on four hits.

Williams paced Pitt State's 12-hit attack by going 4-for-5 with two RBI. Dyer and Skaggs each scored twice.