Gorillas to Host Lions in MIAA Midweek Action

PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team will play host to Missouri Southern State University in an MIAA midweek game Wednesday (Apr. 9). First pitch is set for 5 p.m. (CDT) at Al Ortolani Field.

Pitt State enters the game at 26-7 overall and 15-7 in MIAA play. The Gorillas have won eight straight games after sweeping a three-game MIAA series from Newman University Sunday and Monday (Apr. 6-7). Pitt State currently sits in fourth place in the MIAA standings.

Missouri Southern is 21-14 overall (14-11 MIAA). The Lions, who are currently fifth in the conference standings, enter the game riding a modest four-game winning streak.

Wednesday's action will be the second of three scheduled midweek meetings between the Gorillas and Lions this spring. Pitt State posted an 8-4 road win over MSSU at Warren Turner Field on Mar. 26. The two squads also are scheduled to meet at Joplin, Mo., on Apr. 22.

As a team, the Gorillas are batting .320 and scoring 9.2 runs per game to date. Pitt State pitchers are carrying a 4.11 ERA with 299 strikeouts in 282.2 innings of work. The Gorillas have made just 24 errors in 1,171 total chances (.980 fielding pct.). Offensively, Pitt State leads the MIAA in batting average, runs scored, doubles (89), triples (23), on-base percentage (.428) and slugging percentage (.541). The Gorillas are second in the conference in RBI (281), fifth in the league in stolen bases (56) and seventh in the conference in home runs (37).

The Pitt State pitching staff ranks leads the MIAA in ERA and strikeouts (9.52 K/9 IP) and ranks second in the conference in opponent batting average (.247). Defensively, the Gorillas rank second in the conference in fielding percentage.

Senior infielder Rickey Sanchez is hitting .393 with 37 runs scored, 14 doubles, three home runs and 31 RBI. Sanchez (Mexico City) ranks fifth in the conference in batting average, third in the conference in doubles and ninth in the league in run scored.

Graduate outfielder Alex Rodgers (.370/.528/.563) has scored a team-leading 55 runs, smacked six triples and stolen 23 bases. He leads the MIAA in all three categories, ranking third in NCAA Division II in triples and fourth nationally in runs scored.

Junior infielder/designated hitter Dagen Brewer has a .307/.381/.723 slash line in 26 games played. The Topeka native has 12 doubles, 10 home runs and 44 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 RBI and slugging, tied for fifth in the conference in home runs and sixth in the league in doubles.

Senior RHP Brady Pacha, the Gorillas anticipated midweek starter, 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 innings pitched. Pacha (Wichita) has 28 strikeouts to his credit. He tossed 7.0 shutout innings in the Gorillas' 5-0 win vs. Drury Tuesday (Apr. 1). Pacha limited MSSU to two runs and four hits in 5.0 innings of work last month. He issued one walk and registered four strikeouts

Senior RHP Cadyn Castellanos (0-2, 4.24 ERA) and junior RHP Cooper Crouch (1-1, 2 Sv, 3.37 ERA) have been effective out of the Pitt State bullpen. Castellanos (Murrieta, Calif.) has 25 Ks in 23.1 innings pitched. He's allowed 25 hits and just three walks in 14 appearances, while Crouch (Webb City, Mo.) has surrendered four runs with 11 strikeouts in 10.2 innings of work in 10 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 1,104-490 (.693) record in 29 years as a collegiate coach, including a 199-111 (.642) mark in seven seasons at the Pitt State helm.

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Players Mentioned

#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

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

Players Mentioned

#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

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