Pittsburg State’s winningest baseball season in school history continues this week as the Gorillas are the host for a sub-regional tournament for the first time.
The top-seeded and No. 4-ranked Gorillas (43-9) play eighth-seeded Arkansas Tech (35-20) at 3 p.m. Thursday in the opening game of the four-team, double-elimination sub-regional at Al Ortolani Field. The second game matches fourth-seeded Northwest Missouri (36-16) and fifth-seeded Augustana (41-13) at approximately 6.
The Gorillas have been No. 1 in the Central Region since rankings have been released. Still yet, it was exciting to see their name at the top of the bracket during last Sunday’s selection show.
“It kind of came to reality,” PSU coach Brock Buckingham said. “We’ve done this. It’s an amazing feat really, how tough this league is.”
The Gorillas are in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year and seventh time overall. This year they won the MIAA regular-season title for the first time and the postseason tournament for the second time – the first one coming in 1999.
The Gorillas dominated the postseason tournament with three seven-inning victories – 13-2 over Central Oklahoma, 21-11 over Northwest Missouri and 11-1 over Emporia State.
“We were good in all three phases,” Buckingham said. “We really pitched it good. We hit it good, and we played really good defense.”
Second baseman Cooper Wesslund led the offense with a .727 batting average (8-for-11) with four doubles, two home runs, 14 runs batted in and 11 runs scored. He was named the tournament’s most outstanding player.
“He was locked in,” Buckingham said. “Everything he hit, he hit hard. He was just unbelievable really.”
The Gorillas’ probable batting order is shortstop Jadyn McNealy (.317 batting average), center fielder Eric Bacon (.403), left fielder Dagen Brewer (.436), right fielder Isaac Webb (.383), catcher Grant Nottlemann (.376), Wesslund (.391), first baseman Andrew Branson (.321), designated hitter Seth Dandridge (.333) and third baseman Landon Bruce (.348).
Bradyn McClure (5-0, 3.72 earned run average) is the probable starting pitcher. He has allowed 44 hits in 58 innings, struck out 56 batters and walked 22.
The Gorillas, who have won 15 of their last 16 games, lead the MIAA in batting .358) and runs (11.5 per game). The pitching staff has a 4.51 earned run average compared to the opponents’ 11.98.
Arkansas Tech is making its fourth consecutive regional tournament appearance. The Wonder Boys have won their last seven games and won their first Great American Conference Tournament championship by beating East Central 6-5 and 13-6 in their best-of-3 title series.
The lineup has a trio of .300 hitters with Kirby Jenkins at .349, Derek Rockett at .318 and Levi Martin at .308. Just below the .300 mark are Weston Johnson at .299, Tommy Caya at .297 and Tyler Sardelli at .294.
Jenkins is the top run producer with 11 home runs and 59 RBI.
Daniel Hutchinson leads the pitching staff with a 10-5 record. Closer Eric Woodley has 11 saves and 27 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings.
“They have a good club,” Buckingham said. “They like to run. They’re feisty. They are pretty good on the mound. They are fundamentally sound.”
The Gorillas know first hand that homefield advantage guarantees nothing at this stage of the season. Last year they went to Mankato, Minn., as the No. 3 seed and knocked off host Minnesota State in the final game.
“Playoff baseball, you see some crazy things,” Buckingham said. “Everybody is fighting for their lives now. You’re going to get everybody’s best effort. It should be fun though.”
