Gorilla Baseball Sweep Bethany in Season Opener - KOAM TV 7

Gorilla Baseball Sweep Bethany in Season Opener

PITTSBURG — The Pitt State baseball team scored three times in the bottom of the seventh inning to claim a 7-6 victory over Bethany College and sweep a season-opening doubleheader Wednesday (Feb. 23) at Al Ortolani Field.

Pitt State (2-0) posted a 7-5 victory in the season opener against Bethany (2-9) earlier in the afternoon.

Chase Barnes belted a two-run home run to knot the score at 6-6 in the final inning of the nightcap, after Jeremy Graves drew a leadoff walk. Pinch hitter Derek Hackney then singled. Brian Dean bunted him to second and following an intentional walk to Jason Graves, pinch hitter Evan Thomas delivered the game-winning single through the middle of the infield to plate Hackney.

The Gorillas pounded out 10 hits in the contest. Barnes led the way, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Jake Craft (1-0) earned the win in relief, working one scoreless inning. Alex Schell allowed three runs in five innings of work, leaving with a 4-3 lead.

In the opener, Jeremy Graves and Barnes hit back-to-back home runs in the third inning for a 3-1 lead and the Gorillas overcame four defensive errors, and three unearned runs, to claim a 7-5 victory.

Scott Brady (1-0) allowed just two unearned runs in three innings of relief work to pick up the victory.

Barnes went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to pace Pitt State's 11-hit attack. Graves doubled, homered and scored three runs for the Gorillas as well.

Pitt State will return to action Mar. 4 when the Gorillas open a four-game MIAA weekend series against Emporia State. The two teams will meet in a single game at 3 p.m. (CST), then play a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday (Mar. 5) and a single game at 12 Noon Sunday (Mar. 6).