MARYVILLE, Missouri - The Pittsburg State University baseball team used a pair of late-inning scoring chances to post a doubleheader sweep of the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats on Saturday.
The Gorillas scored wins by the count of 7-1 and 6-3. PSU is 9-5 overall and 6-5 in MIAA play, while Northwest is 6-8 overall and 5-6 in league play.
GAME ONE
Pittsburg State used a six-run eighth to post a 7-1 win in Saturday's opener.
The Gorillas dented the scoreboard first with a solo homer from Greyson Pinkett as he led off the second inning.
Bearcat starter
Max Spitzmiller avoided further damage as he recorded a pair of strikeouts to end the second. Spitzmiller retired nine straight batters from the second into the fifth.
The Bearcats scored an unearned run in the sixth to even the score at 1-1.
Donovan Warren reached on an error by PSU third baseman Adam Theis. Warren moved to second on a single from
Brett Holden.
Peter Carlson bunted Warren and Holden over to put two runners in scoring position.
Connor Quick delivered an RBI ground out to second to tie it up.
Spitzmiller retired the Gorillas in order in the seventh, but the Bearcats could not capitalize on a leadoff single from
Tyler Peters in the seventh to leave the contest tied at 1-1.
The Gorillas put up a six-spot in the eighth as five of their first six batters reached base.
Alex Slocum relieved Spitzmiller with one out in the eighth and inherited two baserunners. Slocum was greeted with a single, sacrifice fly, single, single and walk before he gave way to
Blaine Hanf. Hanf got the third out on a flyout to Warren in right.
Northwest went down in order in the eighth and only garnered a one-out walk in the ninth before falling, 7-1.
Spitzmiller suffered the loss (1-3) after going 7 1/3 innings and allowing seven hits and five runs. Spitzmiller struck out eight.
The Bearcats offense recorded four singles in game one.
GAME TWO
The Bearcats held a 3-2 lead but gave up two runs in the eighth and ninth innings to fall, 6-3.
The Gorillas scored first on an RBI groundout in the second.
Northwest took its first lead of the day in the third. With the bases loaded, Holden hit a ground ball that PSU shortstop Cruz Aranda could not handle and
Matt Gastner scored. Gastner began the scoring inning with a leadoff single. Quick drove in a run on another infield groundout to give Northwest a 2-1 lead.
Ryan Koski doubled to right to plate
Drew Mackie and put the Bearcats on top, 3-1.
PSU took advantage of leadoff walk from Bearcat starter
Spencer Hanson in the fourth. The Gorillas drew within 3-2 on an RBI single from Aranda. Hanson struck out Theis with runners on second and third to thwart the rally.
Hanson worked around another jam in the fifth when he struck out Ryan Koval with the bases loaded.
The Gorillas chased Hanson in the eighth as he walked two batters to start the inning. Slocum came in looking for his fourth save of the season and struck out Kovel for the first out. PSU designated hitter Caleb Carr hit a comebacker to Slocum, who hesitated and then turned to get Carr at first for the second out but it allowed the PSU runners to advance to second and third on the play. PSU's Aranda came up with a two-out, two-strike single to right that scored two runs and gave the Gorillas a 4-3 lead.
PSU added two insurance runs in the ninth to push its lead to 6-3.
PSU's Tanner Lane retired all four Bearcat batters he faced to eanred his second save of the season.
Hanson took the loss (2-1) as he pitched seven innings and gave up five hits and four earned runs. Hanson came into the game with a 1.82 ERA and had allowed only eight hits all season.
The Bearcats managed five hits and only single extra-base hit in the second game. Gastner provided the only two-hit game of the day for Northwest.
The Bearcats and Gorillas will wrap up the three-game series Sunday with a single game at 1 p.m.
