PITTSBURG -- The Pittsburg State University baseball team will open Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play this weekend with a three-game series against Missouri Western State University at Al Ortolani Field. The Gorillas and Griffons are scheduled to meet in a 2 p.m. (CST) match-up Friday (Feb. 20) and 1 p.m. contests Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 21-22).

Pitt State is unbeaten at 10-0 on the season. The Gorillas are ranked No. 4 in the most recent National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA) NCAA Division II Top 25 poll released Wednesday (Feb. 18) and No. 7 in the first in-season American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Top 30 poll released Tuesday (Feb. 17).
 
Pitt State swept a three-game non-conference home series against Maryville University last week. The Gorillas defeated the Saints 13-3, 10-5 and 10-0 last week.
 
Missouri Western brings a 5-5 record into the series. The Griffons posted wins in two of three games in a non-conference series against St. Cloud State University last weekend at St. Joseph.
 
The Gorillas currently rank second in Division II in scoring, averaging 13.9 runs per game, and sixth nationally in batting average (.381). Pitt State's pitchers also carry the third-best ERA (2.16) in the nation and the Gorillas rank third nationally in WHIP (1.08). Defensively, the Gorillas rank sixth in D2 in fielding percentage (.988).
 
Pitt State leads the MIAA in batting average (.381), slugging (.573), runs (139), hits (131), triples (7), RBI (136), ERA (2.16), WHIP (1.08), opponent batting average (.199) and fielding percentage (.988).
 
Individually, newcomer Eric Bacon leads the squad and ranks second in the MIAA in batting average (.535). The junior outfielder has collected 23 hits, including four doubles and two triples, and scored 21 runs. Bacon leads the MIAA and ranks fourth in Division II in runs scored, while junior infielder Jadyn McNealy (.344, 19 runs, 13 SB) and redshirt outfielder Isaac Webb (.390, 18 runs, 2 HR, 16 RBI) rank seventh and 11^th nationally in runs scored. McNealy has the second-highest stolen base total in D2 this season.
 
Junior infielder Landin Midgett was named the MIAA as well as the Central Region Hitter of the Week on Feb. 11 after hitting .583 with four extra-base hits and 16 RBI in four games for the Gorillas two weeks ago. Midgett has a .433 batting average with four doubles, a home run and 26 RBI. He currently ranks third in Division II in RBI (26, 2.6 pg).
 
Senior outfielder Dagen Brewer is hitting .528 with 17 runs scored, four home runs and 25 RBI. Brewer ranks in a tie for ninth nationally in runs scored and fourth nationally in RBI (2.50 pg). The Topeka native has hit safely in a Pitt State record 30 consecutive games dating back to the 2025 season.
 
On the mound, graduate righthander Zach Voss is 3-0 on the season. Voss has a 2.08 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 13.0 innings pitched. Redshirt sophomore RHP Elijah Seitz is 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA in three starts on the season, while senior righthander Preston Giltner is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA through his first three starts.
 
Junior righthander Bradyn McClure has a 2-0 record with a 2.53 ERA and one save in 10.2 innings of relief work over three appearances, while redshirt junior RHP Cason Long is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA and eight strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work. Junior RHP Ethan Froud (0-0, 0.00 ERA) and senior RHP Cooper Crouch (0-0, 0.00 ERA) each have recorded a save on the season. Redshirt junior LHP Ty Blecha is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work over three appearances.