Bearcats Use Big Inning to Prevent Gorillas Sweep - KOAM TV 7

Bearcats Use Big Inning to Prevent Gorillas Sweep

PITTSBURG — Southwest Baptist overcame a 3-1 deficit with a five-run fifth inning and the Bearcats prevented Pittsburg State from a doubleheader sweep Friday (Mar. 15) with a 9-5 victory over the Gorillas. Pitt State rallied from a 6-0 deficit to claim a 7-6 win in game one.

The Gorillas (10-6, 7-5 MIAA) and Bearcats (7-9, 7-7 MIAA) will complete their three-game MIAA series with a single game starting at 1 p.m. (CDT) Saturday (Mar. 16) at Al Ortolani Field.

In the nightcap, Pitt State scored single runs in the first, third and fourth frames to build a 3-1 lead, but SBU capitalized on an error and a pair of hit batters for a big fifth inning. Ross Wolfe's three-run home run capped the big inning, give the Bearcats a lead they would not relinquish.

Dustin Caplette (2-0) tossed a complete game for SBU. He allowed 12 hits and four earned runs, walking none and fanning seven batters.

In the first game, Spencer Blacksher belted a grandslam as part of a five-run third inning to help stake SBU to a 6-0 lead on the Gorillas.

PSU's rally started with Brad Foss' three-run homer in the bottom of the third and the Gorillas continued to whittle away at the lead. Evan Thomas' two-run shot in the fourth tied the score at 6-6, and Thomas delivered the go-ahead RBI with a double that plated Tory Stoffregen.

Ryan McKay (2-1) limited SBU to just one hit in 2 1/3 innings of relief. James Fitzgearlds recorded the final three outs in the seventh for his fourth save of the season.

Stoffregen went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three runs scored, while Thomas and Foss had three RBIs apiece.