PITTSBURG -- The Pittsburg State University baseball team will travel to Emporia, Kan., to battle Emporia State University in a three-game MIAA series beginning Friday (Mar. 6). First pitch is set for 1 p.m. (CST) Friday at Glennen Field, while Saturday's game will begin at 2 p.m. and Sunday's series finale will start at 1 p.m.

Pitt State is unbeaten at 17-0 on the season (7-0 MIAA). The Gorillas are ranked No. 2 in the most recent National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA) NCAA Division II Top 25 poll released Wednesday (Mar. 4) and No. 3 in the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Top 30 poll released Tuesday (Mar. 3).
 
Pitt State swept a three-game MIAA road series against the University of Arkansas Fort Smith. The Gorillas outscored the Lions, 63-8, in the series posting 17-2, 30-3 and 16-3 run-rule victories.
 
Pitt State senior outfielder Dagen Brewer was selected the NCAA Division II National Hitter of the Week today (Mar. 5).

Brewer hit an amazing .857 last week, collecting 12 hits in 14 at-bats in the UAFS series and a midweek game vs. Newman. The Topeka native smacked three doubles and four home runs on the week, scoring 13 runs, slugging 1.929 and driving in 12 runs. He also drew five walks (four intentional) and compiled an .895 on-base percentage.

Brewer went 4-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI in the Gorillas 20-2 home win vs. Newman on Feb. 24. He also went 4-5 with four runs scored, two doubles, two HRs and six RBI in the series opener vs. the Lions last Friday (Feb. 27). He also went 3-3 with four runs scored, a home run and three RBI in Saturday's match-up.

Brewer extended his MIAA record consecutive game hitting streak to 37 games. He's hitting .567 (34-60) and slugging 1.167 with 10 doubles, eight HRs, 41 RBI and 32 runs scored on the season. Brewer currently leads Division II in RBI, ranks third nationally in runs and slugging, and ranks in D2 in batting average, doubles, and home runs.
 
Emporia State brings a 13-3 record into the series (4-2 MIAA). The Hornets are ranked No. 15 nationally by the baseball writers and receiving votes in the coaches poll. ESU dropped two of three games in an MIAA series against Northwest Missouri State University last weekend at Emporia.
 
The Gorillas currently lead Division II in scoring (14.2 rpg), batting average (.388) and on-base percentage (.508) and ranks fourth in slugging percentage (.615). Pitt State's pitchers also carry the third-best ERA (2.38) in the nation and the Gorillas rank second nationally in WHIP (1.02). Defensively, the Gorillas rank ninth in D2 in fielding percentage (.983).


Newcomer Eric Bacon leads the MIAA in hits (34) and run scored (36) and he ranks second in the conference, behind Brewer, in batting average (.493). The junior outfielder, who has collected five doubles, two home runs and 29 RBI to date, ranks second nationally in runs scored.
 
Junior infielder Jadyn McNealy (.368, 31 runs, 21 SB) ranks second in D2 in stolen bases and fifth nationally in runs scored. Senior outfielder Isaac Webb is slashing .412/.494/.735 on the season. He has seven doubles, three home runs and 29 RBI to date. Junior infielder Landin Midgett also is batting .385 with five doubles, three HRs and 34 RBI. Midgett ranks second nationally in RBI.
 
On the mound, graduate righthander Zach Voss is 5-0 on the season. Voss has a 1.64 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 22.0 innings pitched. Redshirt sophomore RHP Elijah Seitz is 3-0 with a 1.84 ERA in four starts on the season, while senior righthander Preston Giltner is 3-0 with a 2.86 ERA through his first five starts.
 
Junior righthander Bradyn McClure has a 2-0 record with a 2.16 ERA and two saves in 16.2 innings of relief work over five appearances, while redshirt junior RHP Cason Long is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 10.0 innings of work. Junior RHP Ethan Froud (1-0, 3.60 ERA) and senior RHP Cooper Crouch (0-0, 3.00 ERA) each have recorded a save on the season. Redshirt junior LHP Ty Blecha is 0-0 with a 0.69 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 13.0 innings of work over five appearances, including one start.