PITTSBURG -- The Pittsburg State University baseball team will travel to Joplin, Mo., to battle Missouri Southern State University in an MIAA midweek game Tuesday (Apr. 7). First pitch is set for 3 p.m. (CDT) at Warren Turner Field on the MSSU campus.

Pittsburg State is 28-7 overall and 17-7 in MIAA play. The Gorillas are ranked No. 5 in the most recent National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA) NCAA Division II Top 25 poll released last Wednesday (Apr. 1); and Pitt State is ranked No. 9 nationally in the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Top 30 poll released last Tuesday (Mar. 31).
 
The Gorillas took two of three games against MIAA rival Fort Hays State University last weekend. Pitt State posted 12-2 and 21-7 wins before the Tigers took the final game, 11-7, Saturday (Apr. 4).
 
Missouri Southern is 22-12 on the season and 17-7 in MIAA play. The Lions have won six of their last seven games, including take two of three games in an MIAA series against the University of Central Oklahoma over the weekend.
 
Tuesday's match-up will be the second meeting of the season between the Gorillas and Lions. Pitt State claimed a 12-6 win over MSSU on Mar. 25 at Al Ortolani Field. The two squads also are scheduled to meet on Wednesday, Apr. 22, in Pittsburg at 5 p.m.
 
The Gorillas lead the MIAA in batting average (.362), scoring (11.8 rpg), runs (413), hits (439), RBI (384), slugging percentage (.577) and on-base percentage (.482). Pitt State leads NCAA Division II in on-base percentage, ranks second nationally in scoring, third in runs, fourth in the country in batting average, sixth in D2 in slugging percentage and ninth overall in hits.
 
Senior outfielder Dagen Brewer leads the MIAA with a .460 batting average. He has collected 57 hits, 16 doubles and 18 home runs, scored 55 runs and compiled 72 RBI. Brewer leads D2 in home runs, RBI (2.06 pg) and slugging (1.040), fifth in runs, seventh in batting average and ninth in doubles.
 
The Topeka native was named MIAA Hitter of the Week Monday after hitting .700 (7-10) with a double, five home runs and 13 RBI in three games last week. Brewer tied MIAA records with four HRs and 10 RBI in the Gorillas' 21-7 win over FHSU Friday (Apr. 3). Additionally, he was named the Division II Hitter of the Week on Mar. 5 after hitting .857 (12-14) with three doubles, four home runs and 14 RBI in four games. Brewer set an MIAA record for consecutive games hitting streak at 37 games earlier this season.
 
Junior outfielder Eric Bacon is hitting .419 with 58 runs scored, 11 doubles, three triples, five home runs and 53 RBI. He leads the MIAA and ranks third in D2 in runs scored. Bacon also leads the MIAA in hits (62) and ranks fifth in the conference in batting average.
 
Junior infielder Jadyn McNealy (.336, 51 runs, 37 SB) leads D2 in stolen bases. Senior outfielder Isaac Webb is slashing .368/.453/.672 on the season. He has 12 doubles, four triples, six home runs and 49 RBI to date. Webb became just the second Pitt State player in program history to hit for the cycle last Friday (Apr. 3). Senior catcher Grant Nottlemann also is batting .397 with 35 runs scored, six doubles, five home runs and 36 RBI. Nottlemann ranks 11^th in the MIAA in batting average.