Curtis Meyer reporter
Though the Gorillas saw their short lived four game win streak snapped on Tuesday, they responded well and were able to sweep the Newman Jets on the road, reaching thirty wins on the season. With just one week remaining before the first round of the MIAA championships, the Gorillas are rounding into form at the right time.
It was a close matchup to begin the season, as the Gorillas hosted the Emporia Hornets on a Tuesday night, losing 9-7. The Hornets scored four runs in the first inning, but Pitt State answered quickly, scoring 3 in the first and 2 in the second to take the lead. This held until the fifth, when the Hornets scored five runs to take the lead. The Gorillas could not find the offense late to retake the lead.
Junior Josh Holmes, junior Hayden Dyer, and junior Austin Warkins each slammed a home run in the contest for Pitt State. Holmes was 3 for 5 while scoring two runs and two RBI, while Warkins and Dyer each drove in two RBI. Graduate student Dylan Kurahashi-Choy Foo was also good for a pair of hits and an RBI. Pitt State marched out eight different pitchers in the contest.
The Gorillas did not let the loss slow them down, as they traveled to face Newman on Friday. Winning a run rule 13-3 victory, the Gorillas overcame a slow start to win. Down 3-2 in the fourth, they proceeded to belt out three runs in the fourth, five in the following, two in the sixth, and tacked on a run in the seventh for good measure.
Senior Daegan Brady collected four RBI and a homer in the win, while Warkins was good for three runs. Senior Blake Mozley and Brady each doubled. Junior Tanner Leslie limited the Jets to 3 runs off seven hits in five innings of work.
Saturday’s game was a come from behind victory yet again for the Gorillas, as they allowed four runs in the first inning. A two-run inning in the third and another four runs in the fourth gave Pitt State the momentum back, as they held on for a 10-8 victory.
Kurahashi-Choy Foo and Mozley fueled the offense, combining for six hits and seven RBI. Foo was 4 of 5 with a double, a home run and three RBI, while Mozley was two of four with a homer and four RBI. Senior Christian Spitz earned the win with 2.2 innings of work in relief.
The Gorillas closed the week out on Sunday with a 9-0 shutout, taking the series sweep and clinching their fifth 30-win season in the last six, the lone exception being the COVID shortened season. Pitt State sits at 30-15 with three more games remaining on the docket.
Foo was at the center of the offense yet again, going three of four with a homer and four RBI. Brady was two of three with a double and three RBI, while Holmes was three of four, scoring three runs and stealing a base. Junior Brady Pacha earned the win on the mound, allowing just one hit in six innings.
The Gorillas will close out the regular season at home when they host Fort Hays State, before turning their attention to the MIAA tournament.