Gorillas to Face Hillcats in MIAA Road Series

PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team travel to Claremore, Okla., for a three-game MIAA series against Rogers State University beginning Friday (Apr. 11).

The Gorillas and Hillcats are scheduled to face off Friday at 2 p.m. (CDT), Saturday (Apr. 12) at 1 p.m. and Sunday (Apr. 13) at 1 p.m. at the RCB Bank Sports Complex.

Pitt State enters the series 27-7 overall and 16-7 in MIAA play. The Gorillas have won nine straight games after sweeping a three-game MIAA series from Newman University last weekend and claiming an 8-5 win over Missouri Southern State University Wednesday (Apr. 9). Pitt State currently sits in fourth place in the MIAA standings.

Rogers State is 20-14 overall (10-12 MIAA). The Hillcats are seeking to halt a three-game losing streak after most recently dropping a 3-2 home decision to the University of Arkansas Fort Smith Tuesday (Apr. 8). RSU is alone in eighth place in the conference standings.

As a team, the Gorillas are batting .318 and scoring 9.2 runs per game to date. Pitt State pitchers are carrying a 4.13 ERA with 303 strikeouts in 291.2 innings of work. The Gorillas have made just 24 errors in 1,204 total chances (.980 fielding pct.). Offensively, Pitt State leads the MIAA in batting average, runs scored, doubles (91), triples (23), on-base percentage (.427) and slugging percentage (.540). The Gorillas are second in the conference in RBI (287), fifth in the league in stolen bases (57) and seventh in the conference in home runs (39).

The Pitt State pitching staff ranks leads the MIAA in ERA and strikeouts (9.35 K/9 IP) and ranks second in the conference in opponent batting average (.248). Defensively, the Gorillas rank lead the conference in fielding percentage.

Junior infielder Drew Bugner is batting a team-leading .422 with 10 doubles, three triples and 26 RBI in 23 games played. Bugner (Wichita, Kan.) ranks second in the MIAA in batting average and enters the weekend action on a 13-game hitting streak.

Senior infielder Rickey Sanchez is hitting .381 with 38 runs scored, 14 doubles, three home runs and 31 RBI. Sanchez (Mexico City) ranks ninth in the conference in batting average, third in the conference in doubles and ninth in the league in run scored.

Graduate outfielder Alex Rodgers (.366/.524/.553) has scored a team-leading 56 runs, smacked six triples and stolen 24 bases. He leads the MIAA in all three categories, ranking third in NCAA Division II in triples and fifth nationally in runs scored.

Junior infielder/designated hitter Dagen Brewer has a .314/.385/.724 slash line in 27 games played. The Topeka native has 13 doubles, 10 home runs and 46 RBI to his credit. He tied the school single game record with nine RBI in the win vs. SBU on Mar. 18. Brewer currently ranks fourth in the MIAA in slugging, fourth in the conference in RBI tied for fifth in the league in doubles and home runs.

Pitt State starting pitchers Kolby Dougan (7-0, 2.02 ERA), Maddox Thornton (7-1, 3.27) and Tanner Leslie (3-2, 4.68 ERA) are a combined 17-3 with a 3.18 ERA in 152.2 innings of work following each pitcher's first nine 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 13 runs and 30 hits in 58.0 innings pitched this season, while issuing just 16 walks and registering 97 strikeouts. He leads the MIAA and NCAA Division II in strikeouts (15.05 Ks/9 IP) and WHIP (0.79). Dougan also leads the league in opponent batting average (.151).

Thornton, a graduate RHP, has allowed 56 hits and eight walks in 52.1 IP. The Bentonville, Ark., native has registered 44 strikeouts so far. Thornton shares the MIAA lead with Dougan, and two other pitchers, for victories.

Leslie, a senior RHP, has allowed just two runs in his last two starts. He's walked none and registered 12 strikeouts in 12.0 innings of work while picking up a pair of victories. The Haysville, Kan., native has a 17-9 career record with a 5.17 ERA in 43 career appearances (32 starts) for the Gorillas. His 17 career wins ranks in a tie for second place on Pitt State's all-time victories list.

Senior RHP Brady Pacha also is 5-1 with a 2.93 ERA and one save in 11 appearances, three starts. He has allowed just 16 hits in 30.2 IP. Pacha (Wichita) has 28 strikeouts to his credit. He tossed 7.0 shutout innings in the Gorillas' 5-0 win vs. Drury on Apr. 1.

Senior RHP Cadyn Castellanos (0-2, 4.00 ERA) and junior RHP Cooper Crouch (1-1, 3 Sv, 3.09 ERA) have been effective out of the Pitt State bullpen. Castellanos (Murrieta, Calif.) has 26 Ks in 27.0 innings pitched. He's allowed 27 hits and just four walks in 15 appearances, while Crouch (Webb City, Mo.) has surrendered four runs with 11 strikeouts in 11.2 innings of work in 11 appearances.

Pitt State's Bob Fornelli became just the fourth active NCAA Division II head coach to reach 1,100 career victories in the Gorillas' 13-7 win vs. Northeastern State on Mar. 30. Fornelli has a 1,105-490 (.693) record in 29 years as a collegiate coach, including a 200-111 (.643) mark in seven seasons at the Pitt State helm.

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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

#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

#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

#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

#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