Friday, March 14 | 3 p.m.
Northwest Missouri State vs. Pittsburg State | Al Ortolani Field | Pittsburg, Kan.
WATCH | LIVE STATS
 
Saturday, March 15 | 2 p.m.
Northwest Missouri State vs. Pittsburg State | Al Ortolani Field | Pittsburg, Kan.
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Sunday, March 16 | Noon
Northwest Missouri State vs. Pittsburg State | Al Ortolani Field | Pittsburg, Kan.
WATCH | LIVE STATS

Tuesday, March 18 | 2 p.m.
Northwest Missouri State vs. No. 3 Central Missouri | Bearcat Baseball Field | Maryville, Mo. 
WATCH | LIVE STATS
 
The Northwest Missouri State baseball team (9-9, 3-3 MIAA) will play its third MIAA series against the Pittsburg State Gorillas this weekend, starting on Friday, March 14 at 3 p.m., at Al Ortolani Field in Pittsburg, Kan.

The Bearcats will then host the No. 3-ranked Central Missouri Mules on Tuesday, March 18 at 2 p.m., at Bearcat Baseball Field in Maryville, Mo. 
 
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. PITTSBURG STATE
Northwest holds a one-game advantage over PSU in the all-time series, 46-45. The Gorillas swept the Bearcats in a three-game set in their only meeting last season at in Pittsburg. Northwest has won only 18 of its 44 tries at PSU's home diamond, with its last win in Pittsburg coming in the 2023 season (March 11), 3-1. The Gorillas have taken down the 'Cats 18 in the last 20 games. 
 
ABOUT THE GORILLAS
PSU (14-5, 4-5 MIAA) played a three-game series against Central Oklahoma last week in Edmond, Okla., dropping two out of three to the Bronchos. The Gorillas are batting .293 as a team, while scoring 8.3 runs per game. PSU's bullpen currently brings a 4.16 ERA to the weekend series, tallying 181 strikeouts in 153.2 innings. 

Offensively, the Gorillas rank second in the MIAA in slugging percentage (.532), third in runs scored, doubles (46) and home runs (25). PSU leads the leads the league in triples (10) and fourth in RBIs (134). 
 
SO FAR THIS SEASON

• Senior utility player Ryan Williams leads the Bearcats with a .348 batting average and a team-best 24 hits. He also ranks second on the team in RBIs (24), doubles (5), total bases (35), and walks (15).
• Senior infielder Dylan Hufft follows closely behind with a .320 average and a .427 slugging percentage. Hufft has matched Williams with 24 hits, leading the team with six doubles and adding one triple.
• Senior infielder Kaehukai Young has launched a team-high five home runs while leading Northwest in RBIs (26) and total bases (37). Young is hitting .288 with a .561 slugging percentage.
• Graduate two-way player Ashton Neuman is coming off a strong weekend, leading the 'Cats in runs scored (25), walks (26), stolen bases (5), and is tied for the team lead in home runs (5). On the mound, Neuman (1-1) has made three appearances, striking out five batters over 9 1/3 innings.
• Offensively, the Bearcats have tallied 149 runs this season, ranking fifth in the conference. Their patience at the plate has resulted in 117 walks.
• Defensively, Northwest has played error-free baseball in nine games and committed just 15 errors all season. The Bearcats have also been aggressive on the basepaths, swiping 21 bases in 24 attempts.
• On the mound, junior right-hander Brock Steggall (2-1) leads the team with a 3.07 ERA in 14 2/3 innings, striking out eight batters.
• Junior pitcher Ben Haug (2-1) has logged a team-high 24 innings, highlighted by a dominant complete-game shutout in Northwest's 16-0 win on Feb. 8. Haug leads the Bearcat pitching staff with 22 strikeouts.
• Senior Connor Polli has been a key bullpen arm, making a team-leading eight appearances while working 12 1/3 innings.

 
LAST TIME OUT
Northwest secured its first series sweep over Washburn since 2019, capping off a three-game set with an 11-6 win Monday afternoon at Bearcat Baseball Field. The Bearcats then travel to William Jewell on Tuesday, dropping the midweek matchup, 8-6. 
 
JANDRON TAKES OVER
First-year head coach Tony Jandron takes the reigns as only the fourth leader in the last 42 seasons of Bearcat baseball. This is the first head coaching job for Jandron after previously serving as an assistant coach at Illinois State, Central Michigan, Northwood and the College of DuPage.

Jandron's Coaching Profile

• Illinois State - First winning season since 2019 ('24)
• Mid-American Conference (MAC) Champions ('22, '19)
• MAC Tournament Champions ('22,'19)
• MLB Draft Picks ('22', '21, '20, '19)
• NCAA D1 Regional Qualifier ('22,'21,'19)
• NCAA D1 Regional Finalist ('21)
• First NCAA Tournament Appearance in 24 years ('19)
• Tied program record with 47 wins ('19)
• GLIAC Champions ('18, '17)
• GLIAC Tournament Champions ('18, '17)
• NCAA D2 Regional Qualifier ('18, '17)
• 84 wins, 5th in all of Division II ('18, '17)
• Top-20 national ranking ('18, '17)
• Program Record 46 wins ('17)
• First ever NCAA Regional - #1 seed ('17)
• DuPage, 16-win improvement: 39-20 record ('15)
• First year at DuPage resulted in first winning season in five years ('14)

 
Jandron added a pair of assistant coaches in Theo Bartolomeo and Javier Martinez to the Bearcat coaching staff.
 
WILLIAMS NAMED PRESEASON D2 BASEBALL ALL-AMERICAN
Northwest Missouri State University senior Ryan Williams was been named a D2 Baseball Preseason All-America selection, announced Friday. Williams (Kansas City, Mo./Liberty HS) gained a spot on the D2 Baseball Third-Team All-America list.
 
2025 MIAA BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. Central Missouri [11] – 141 points
2. Missouri Southern [2] – 128 points
3. Pittsburg State – 120 points
4. Central Oklahoma – 119 points
5. Washburn – 97 points
6. Fort Hays State – 78 points
7. Emporia State – 67 points
8. Rogers State – 65 points
9. Missouri Western – 53 points
10. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 52 points
11. Northeastern State – 41 points
12. Northwest Missouri – 33 points
13. Newman – 20 points
[#] - First Place Votes