PITTSBURG -- The Pittsburg State University baseball team opened its three-game MIAA series against the University of Central Missouri with a 13-4 victory Friday (Mar. 13) at Al Ortolani Field.

The Gorillas (21-1, 11-1 MIAA) jumped out to a 6-0 lead after two innings, weathered a four-run third inning by the Mules (18-4, 9-2 MIAA) then added single runs in the third, fourth and fifth frames before tacking on four runs in the sixth for the game's final margin.

Eric Bacon had a pair of hits, including a three-run double as part of Pitt State's four-run sixth inning. Dagen Brewer drove in a pair of runs, including his RBI double in the first that plated the game's first run. Jadyn McNealy and Cooper Wessland also had two hits and two RBI each in the contest.

Bradley Neill (1-0) picked up his first win of the season on the mound for the Gorillas. Neill entered the game with two outs in the third inning. He limited UCM to three hits over 2.1 innings of work. Reliever Bradyn McClure tossed 4.0 hitless innings of relief to lock down his third save of the season.

The Gorillas, ranked No. 1 nationally by the baseball writers and No. 4 in the coaches poll, touched Mules starter Greyson Chappell for six runs, five earned. Chappell, who entered the game having thrown 17.1 scoreless innings on the season, faced four batters in the second inning but did not record an out.

Pitt State and the No. 7/6 ranked Mules will wrap up the MIAA series with a 1 p.m. (CDT) doubleheader Saturday. The two squads were originally scheduled for a 2 p.m. game Saturday and a 1 p.m. contest Sunday, but the weekend weather forecast precipitated the change.