EDMOND, Okla. - The No. 5-ranked and top-seeded Pittsburg State University Gorillas took down the No. 29-ranked and No. 4 seeded Northwest Missouri State University baseball team in the semifinals of the 2026 MIAA Tournament at Wendell Simmons Field, 21-11.
Northwest (36-16 overall) managed 11 runs on 10 hits, including home runs from
Michael Good,
Frank Gall and
Jordi Ventura. However, Bearcat pitchers issued 11 walks and the Gorillas (42-9 overall) responded with 21 runs on 13 hits. The Gorillas's Caleb Wesslund hit two home runs and drove in nine runs to power them to the title game.
Pittsburg State jumped out to an early lead in the first inning as Northwest starting pitcher
Logan Brasel was lifted with an injury three batters into the game. Eric Bacon scored on Isaac Webb's sacrifice fly, and Wesslund's three-run homer to center field extended the lead. Pittsburg State led 4-0 after the first inning.
In the second inning, the Gorillas added four more runs. Landon Bruce doubled and scored on a hit by pitch, Webb scored on a wild pitch, and Wesslund doubled in three unearned runs. The scoreboard showed an 8-0 lead for Pittsburg State after two innings.
The third inning saw the Bearcats respond with six runs.
Parker Griffith doubled, and
Chester Brooks followed with an RBI ground-rule double. Gall hit a two-run homer to center field. Later, Good's three-run homer, which followed a throwing error, cut the deficit. However, Pittsburg State countered with five runs, including a bases-clearing double by Wesslund. Pittsburg State led 13-6 through three innings.
In the fourth inning, Pittsburg State widened its margin with seven runs. Dagen Brewer's three-run homer and Wesslund's second home run of the day highlighted the inning. The score stood at 20-6 in favor of Pittsburg State after four innings.
Northwest Missouri State plated three runs in the fifth inning.
John Connors,
Wilmer Jimenez, and Good contributed hits, with Good and
Leonardo May driving in runs. The score moved to 20-9 after five innings.
Ventura's two-run homer in the sixth inning added to the Bearcats' tally, narrowing the gap. The score was 20-11 heading into the seventh inning.
In the seventh inning, the Gorillas capped the scoring with an RBI double by Bacon, setting the final score at 21-11 in favor of Pittsburg State.
Northwest used nine pitchers in the seven-inning contest.
Gall recorded two hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs in the game. Ventura contributed with a home run, tallying two RBIs and scoring twice. Good added a home run as well, collecting four RBIs and crossing the plate twice. Brooks doubled and brought in one run with his lone hit.
The Bearcats entered the MIAA Tournament as the No. 4 ranked team in the NCAA Central Region. The 2026 NCAA Tournament selection show is set for Sunday at 9 p.m. (CT) on NCAA.com.
