Gorillas to Host MIAA Series Against RiverHawks

PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team will return to Al Ortolani Field for a three-game MIAA series against Northeastern State University beginning Friday (Mar. 28).

The Gorillas and RiverHawks are scheduled to face off Friday at 5 p.m. (CDT), Saturday (Mar. 29) at 2 p.m. and Sunday (Mar. 30) at Noon.

Pitt State enters the series 19-7 overall and 9-7 in MIAA play. The Gorillas posted an 8-4 road win over Missouri Southern State University in their most recent action Wednesday (Mar. 26). Pitt State currently sits in fourth place in the MIAA standings.

Northeastern State is 10-18 overall (7-7 MIAA). The RiverHawks are currently in a three-way tie for sixth place in the conference standings (with Emporia State and Northwest Missouri). The RiverHawks enter the weekend series seeking to halt a seven-game losing streak.

As a team, the Gorillas are batting .319 and scoring 9.2 runs per game to date. Pitt State pitchers are carrying a 4.47 ERA with 237 strikeouts in 223.2 innings of work. The Gorillas have made just 21 errors in 928 total chances (.977 fielding pct.).

Offensively, Pitt State leads the MIAA in runs scored, doubles (78), triples (17) and slugging percentage (.546). The Gorillas are second in the conference in batting average and RBI (220) and tied for seventh in the league in home runs (29).

The Pitt State pitching staff ranks second in the MIAA in ERA, strikeouts (9.5 K/9 IP) and opponent batting average (.251). Defensively, the Gorillas rank third in the conference to date in fielding percentage.

Senior middle infielder Rickey Sanchez leads the MIAA in batting with a .423 average (41-97). He has scored 32 runs and produced 12 doubles, three home runs and 23 RBI. Sanchez (Mexico City) is tied for third place in the conference in doubles and ranks eighth in the league in run scored.

Junior infielder/designated hitter Dagen Brewer has a .333/.413/.785 slash line in 23 games played. The Topeka native has 12 doubles, 10 home runs and 43 RBI to his credit. He tied the school single game record with nine RBI in the win vs. SBU on Mar. 18. Brewer ranks second in the MIAA in RBI, third in the conference in slugging and tied for third in the league in doubles and home runs.

Graduate outfielder Alex Rodgers (.351/.512/.553) has scored an MIAA-leading 44 runs to date. He also leads the conference in triples (5) and ranks second in the league in stolen bases (15).

Pitt State starting pitchers Kolby Dougan (5-0, 2.45 ERA), Maddox Thornton (5-1, 2.61) and Tanner Leslie (1-2, 5.93 ERA) are a combined 11-3 with a 3.42 ERA in 115.2 innings of work following each pitcher's first seven starts of the 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 12 runs and 24 hits in 44.0 innings pitched (0.82 WHIP) this season, while allowing just 13 walks and registering 74 strikeouts. He leads the MIAA and ranks third in Division II in strikeouts (15.14 Ks/9 IP) and leads the MIAA and ranks sixth nationally in WHIP. Dougan also leads the league in ERA and opponent batting average (.158).

Thornton, a graduate RHP, has allowed 43 hits and seven walks in 41.1 IP. The Bentonville, Ark., native has registered 34 strikeouts so far. Thornton shares the MIAA lead with Dougan, and two others, in victories and he ranks third in the conference in ERA.

Thornton, a senior RHP, has a 15-9 career record with a 5.42 ERA and two saves in 41 career appearances (30 starts) for the Gorillas. He is a two-time All-MIAA performer.

Senior RHP Brady Pacha also is 4-1 with a 3.80 ERA and one save in 10 appearances, two starts. He has allowed just 11 hits in 23.2 IP. Pacha (Wichita) has 24 strikeouts to his credit.

Senior RHP Cadyn Castellanos (0-2, 4.29 ERA) and junior RHP Cooper Crouch (1-1, 3.12 ERA, 1 Sv) have been effective out of the Pitt State bullpen. Castellanos (Murrieta, Calif.) has 24Ks in 21.0 innings pitched. He's allowed 22 hits and just three walks in 12 appearances, while Crouch (Webb City, Mo.) has surrendered three runs with nine strikeouts in 8.2 innings of work in eight appearances.

Pitt State head coach Bob Fornelli has compiled a 1,097-490 record in 29 seasons as a collegiate coach, including a 192-111 mark in seven years leading the Gorillas. Fornelli ranks fourth among active NCAA Division II coaches in victories (1,097).

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Players Mentioned

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

#24 Brady Pacha: 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

#19 Cooper Crouch: RHP; 6' 0"; Junior; 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

#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

#19 Cooper Crouch
: 6' 0"; Junior; R/R
: RHP

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