This past weekend was a resounding success for the Pitt State Gorillas, as both softball and baseball teams completed a clean sweep of the competition at their respective tournaments. Both teams took to the road, and both teams continued to have a perfect record.
Gorilla baseball would compete in the Edmond First Pitch Classic, beginning their weekend with a game against the University of Missouri St. Louis. The Gorillas would pick up a dominating 25-1 win in just seven innings, as they controlled the game from the start.
Jumping out to an early 8-1 lead, Pittsburg State batted around the order twice in the third inning and put up 14 runs to extend the lead up to 22-1. Freshman James Dagenhart with his first collegiate hit, an RBI single up the middle, started a three-run fifth inning to provide the final scoreline of 25-1.
Junior Landin Midgett finished a triple shy of the cycle, going 4-of-4 with a game-high seven RBI. Junior Eric Bacon (5), senior Dagen Brewer (3), senior Jadyn McNealy (2), redshirt senior Isaac Webb (2), and junior Cole Carter (2) also drove in multiple runs. On the mound, redshirt senior Brady Stuewe (1-0), senior Ryan Leiker, senior Aidan Sowers, junior Ricardo Hernandez, junior Jaxson Cahoy, redshirt Ryker Curry and redshirt sophomore Lucas Vanlanduit combined to allow UMSL (0-1) to only one run in a seven inning run rule victory.
The Gorillas followed that victory with a 6-2 win over Southeastern Oklahoma University, with Brewer smacking in a grand slam to propel the Gorillas to victory. The Gorillas overcame an early 2-0 deficit Saturday after falling behind by a pair of runs in the first inning. Brewer belted his third home run of the season with one out in the third inning to stake Pitt State to a 4-2 lead. His blow came after Cotton and McNealy delivered back-to-back hits, including a double by Cotton, and Bacon walked to load the bases. Midgett added a sacrifice fly later in the inning as the Gorillas plated five runs and sent nine batters to the plate in the frame.
The Gorillas would follow this effort up with a 19-0 demolition of East Central University in seven innings of work. Midgett continued his run, going 2-for-3 with a double and five RBI in the contest. Webb had three hits and drove in three runs, while Brewer went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Senior Cooper Wesslund also drive in three runs, while junior Landon Bruce scored three runs.
The Gorillas would wrap up their tournament with a rematch against Southeastern State University, winning 18-1. Pitt State batters pounded out five extra-base hits among a 17-hit attack, including Cotton’s three-run home run in the fifth frame. Branson and Harris each went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Branson drove in three runs and Harris had a double and two RBI. Bacon went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and two RBI. Brewer extended his school record hitting streak to 27 games. He collected a pair of his and drove in three runs. Midgett also knocked in three runs to raise his season RBI total to a team-leading 21.