PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University baseball team will travel to Magnolia, Ark., to open the 2026 season with a three-game series against Southern Arkansas University. The Gorillas and Muleriders will play a doubleheader at 1 p.m. (CST) Sunday (Feb. 1) at Walker Stadium on the SAU campus and close the series with a 1 p.m. contest Monday (Feb. 2).

Pitt State and SAU originally were scheduled to take part in the Dugan Invitational in Hot Springs, Ark., but inclement weather forced teams to make alternative plans.
 
The Gorillas posted a 42-12 overall record and a 27-9 mark in MIAA play in 2025. Pitt State qualified for the NCAA Division II National Tournament and advanced to the NCAA-II Super Regional.

The Gorillas enter the series ranked No. 16 in the 2026 NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll released by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA) earlier this week.

First-year head coach Brock Buckingham will make his Pitt State debut against SAU Sunday. Buckingham was hired in May 2025 following the retirement of the Gorillas' legendary head coach Bob Fornelli. Fornelli compiled a 215-116 (.650) record leading the Gorillas during the past seven seasons (2019-2025). He finished his legendary 29-year coaching career with a 1,120-495 (.693) record.

Buckingham came to Pitt State from Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kan., where he served as an assistant coach for 17 seasons (2005-06, 2011-25), including the past six years as associate head coach. During his tenure, Buckingham helped the perennial powerhouse Tigers amass 720 victories, capture nine Jayhawk Conference East Division titles and qualify for the JUCO World Series five times.
 
Senior outfielder/designated hitter Dagen Brewer, a 2025 NCAA Division II All-America selection, headlines the Gorillas' returning offensive cast.

Brewer hit .380 with 54 runs scored, 19 doubles, 24 home runs and 78 RBI as a junior in 2025. The Topeka native led the MIAA in home runs, RBI and slugging percentage (.866), earning first-team All-MIAA honors. Brewer set Pitt State records for single season home runs and single game RBI over the course of the season.

Senior infielder Andrew Branson also returns for the Gorillas. Branson (St. James, Mo.) started 17 games in 2025, batting .273 with 14 runs scored, three doubles, two home runs and 14 RBI.

Redshirt junior catcher Cooper Harris also returns after exercising a medical redshirt a year ago. Harris (Choctaw, Okla.) started in 11 of 25 games played, smacking one double and driving in three runs in limited plate appearances.

The Gorillas also welcome back a pair of pitchers who made 15 or more appearances in 2025 – senior RHP Cooper Crouch and redshirt sophomore RHP Elijah Seitz - and two hurlers who made two starts last year – redshirt junior LHP Ty Blecka and Seitz.
 
Crouch (Webb City, Mo.) made a team-leading 23 appearances in 2025, posting a 4-2 record and five saves with a 3.95 ERA in 27.1 innings of work. He earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors for his efforts.

Seitz (Branson, Mo.) appeared in 15 games, including two starts, last year, posting an 0-1 record with a save. He registered 24 strikeouts in 24.0 innings of work.

Blecka (Lenexa, Kan.) made a pair of starts in 2025 before suffering a season-ending injury. He logged a 1-0 record with a 3.86 ERA in limited innings pitched.

Additionally, redshirt junior RHP Cason Long has battled back from injury and will look to be an impact performer on the mound again this spring. Long (Salina, Kan.) appeared in 14 games, including eight starts, between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, registering 49 strikeouts in 39.2 innings of work.

Graduate RHP Zack Voss also is expected to see significant action after redshirting in the program in 2025. Voss made 15 starts at Division I McNeese State in 2024 after playing at Cowley College previously.

Redshirt senior outfielder Isaac Webb, senior infielder Jadyn McNealy, junior infielder Landin Midgett, senior infielder Cooper Wesslund and senior infielder Jarron Cotton all figure to impact the Pitt State lineup.

Webb (Collinsville, Okla.) joined the Gorillas from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi where he hit .314 over two seasons. McNealy (Tulsa, Okla.) transferred to Pitt State from Division I Campbell University. He batted .357 at Cowley College in 2024. Midgett (Columbus, Kan.) hit .356 with 15 doubles and 38 RBI at Coffeyville Community College. Wesslund (Lincoln, Neb.) drove in 51 runs at Hutchinson Community College in 2024 and transferred to Pitt State from DI Omaha University, while Cotton (Leander, Texas) belted 10 home runs and stole 22 bases at Barton Community College in 2024. He joins the Gorillas from the University of Nebraska.

Newcomers Ricardo Hernandez and Preston Giltner also are expected to play key role for the Gorillas. Hernandez, a junior RHP, comes to Pitt State from Division I Oral Roberts University. Giltner, a senior RHP, joined the Gorillas from MIAA rival University of Central Oklahoma where he posted a 6-2 record a year ago.

Redshirt senior RHP Brady Stuewe (Kansas State University), junior RHP Bradyn McClure (Butler CC), junior RHP Ethan Froud (Pratt CC) and junior LHP Jackson Murry (Crowder College) all figure to impact the Pitt State bullpen.