Pitt State started off on the wrong foot this week, losing on the road to MIAA rival Missouri Southern in a shootout, before rattling off three straight wins at Northeastern Oklahoma State University the following weekend. The Gorillas now sit at 31-8 on the season, consistently dominating the majority of their competition.
Things began on Tuesday, when they traveled to Joplin to play the Lions. While the Gorillas would lose 12-14, it was close to a win towards the end. Pitt State allowed eight runs in the first two innings, falling behind fast, before finding themselves behind 11-1 after just four innings. Things looked dire, until the Gorillas knocked six runs home in the fifth to make it competitive again. The Gorillas would keep chipping away, but ultimately fell short of the comeback.
Senior Dagen Brewer, junior Landin Midgett and senior Andrew Branson all homered for the Gorillas. Isaac Webb had a double among his three hits and he drove in two runs. Brewer, Branson and junior Landon Bruce all had two RBI as well. Nine different pitchers would take the mound for Pitt State.
Despite the loss, the Gorillas did not falter as they faced the Riverhawks in a best of three series. Pitt State took Friday’s game 9-0. Pitt State led 8-0 after just three innings, before tacking on an extra run in the sixth.
Senior Grant Nottlemann went 3-for-3 at the plate with a pair of walks and two runs scored. Senior Cooper Wesslund and Brewer collected two hits apiece. Wesslund drove in three runs, while Brewer smacked a double and totaled two RBI on the night. Junior Bradyn McClure and junior reliever Ricardo Hernandez combined on a five-hit shutout against Northeastern State.
Pitt State continued its dominant weekend on Saturday with a 13-3 win in just eight innings. Redshirt senior Isaac Webb finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of home runs and four RBI. Brewer, the D2 national RBI leader, drove in three runs in the contest. Wesslund also collected three hits, including a double, scored twice and knocked in three runs. Senior Jaron Cotton doubled and homered and Branson had a home run and two RBI.
The third and final game of the weekend came on Sunday, as Pitt State completed the sweep with an 11-2 win over the Riverhawks. Redshirt junior Cooper Harris smacked a pinch hit home run in the contest. Junior Eric Bacon and Webb had two hits and two RBI apiece while Wesslund scored three runs. Redshirt junior Ty Blecha limited NSU to three hits over 4.0 innings of work.
Another outcome of Sundays game was Brewer breaking another school record, hitting his 81st RBI, breaking the previous record of 78 RBI.
The Gorillas are now ranked #7 nationally by the coaches association and will look to continue to climb the rankings this next weekend, as they travel to play Southwest Baptist University and Missouri Science and Technology this coming week.