PITTSBURG -- Pinch runner Brett Sarwinski scored from second base thanks to an errant throw on a sacrifice bunt attempt to lift the Pittsburg State University baseball team to a 3-2 win over Rogers State University Friday (Apr. 24) at Al Ortolani Field.

The Gorillas (35-8, 22-8 MIAA), ranked No. 9 in the NCBWA NCAA Division II Top 25 poll and No. 7 in the ABCA D2 Top 30 poll, pulled within two games in the loss column of the No. 6/5 Hillcats (37-8, 25-6 MIAA) in the conference standings with the victory. 
 
Pitt State, which survived hitting into four double plays and stranding five runners on base through eight innings, set up the winning play by getting back-to-back walks from Kam Koester and Seth Dandridge off RSU reliever Ricardo Landeros (0-1). Landon Bruce then battled back from a 0-2 count to put a 2-2 offering in play. Landeros fielded the bunt attempt but threw wide of first baseman Jake Mitchell to allow Sarwinski to race home with the winning run.

The game featured a pitcher's duel between Pitt State and Rogers State starters Bradyn McClure and Zach Horwith. Horwith scattered seven hits over 6.0 innings of work. He issued three walks, but made key pitches to force the Gorillas to hit into three double plays. McClure limited RSU to a pair of runs and seven hits over 7.0 innings pitched. He walked three and registered six strikeouts.

The Gorillas got run-scoring singles from Cooper Wesslund in the sixth inning and Grant Nottlemann in the eighth frame. Eric Bacon opened the eighth inning with a double and came around on Nottlemann's hit.

The Gorillas and Hillcats will resume the series with a 2 p.m. (CDT) game Saturday (Apr. 25). Pitt State will honor its outgoing senior class with pregame ceremonies beginning at 1:30 p.m.