Gorillas Defeat Truman 6-5 In Series Finale

PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Pittsburg (Kan.) State Gorillas closed out the Truman Baseball team 6-5 in the series finale on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs will return home to face Southwest Baptist (Mo.) University on Wednesday afternoon in Kirksville.

Paul Trenhaile and Jordan Howe each hit .500 during the three-game series and the Bulldogs were seven of nine in stolen base attempts; however the series was dominated by the Gorillas' Troy Stoffregen. With a .545 batting average (6-of-11) to go with six RBIs and four runs scored, Stoffregen was key during the sweep.

Game 1 Box Score
Pittsburg State 4
Truman 1

A four-run fourth inning was the difference as the Gorillas took the opener 4-1.

Logan Siegler faced the minimum through the first three innings but a leadoff single by Ryan Ventura in the fourth started the Gorilla big inning. Evan Thomas reached on a bunt single that scored Ventura then two more singles and a fielding error resulted in two more runs. A sac fly from Austin Lastimado closed out the inning.

Truman got a run back in the sixth as Zak Larkin led off with a single and scored on Blake Marino's sac fly to left.

Siegler went the distance allowing seven hits and walked no one but fell to 2-4 on the season. George Brandecker pitched six and a third for Pittsburg State allowing six hits for his third win of the year.

Game 2 Box Score
Pittsburg State 7
Truman 1

This time the Gorillas used a five-run fourth inning, scoring all the runs with two outs, as the handed the Bulldogs a 7-1 defeat.

Troy Stoffregen got things started with a solo home run in the bottom of the first, then broke a 1-1 score in the third with a two-out RBI single.

The Bulldogs got their run in the second when Chris Zrostlik doubled and scored on Jordan Howe's RBI base knock to center.

With two outs in the fourth, Luke Bordewick singled to left center to bring home the first run and later Evan Thomas doubled in two more as all the runs in the inning were unearned.

Jarrett Eiskina fell to 0-5 as he lasted four innings with just two of the seven runs allowed being earned. Andrew Range shutout the Gorillas over the next four innings and allowed just three hits.

Cody Wren tossed eight innings for Pittsburg State and struck out eight Bulldogs to even his record at 2-2.

Game 3 Box Score
Pittsburg State 6
Truman 5

Truman struck first against Pittsburg State as Corbin Williams led off the game with a double and would score on an RBI single by Jarod Hahn. Paul Trenhaile would hit a sac fly plating Hahn for a 2-0 Bulldog lead.

The Gorillas got one back in the bottom of the inning as Troy Stoffregen reached on a bunt single and would come around on a single by Ryan Bilovesky.

In the third, Stoffregen knotted the game at two with an RBI single.

Truman retook the lead in the fourth as Jordan Howe doubled and scored on a throwing error following a single by Mike Monfre.

Stoffregen struck again in the bottom of the fifth as he circled the bases with an RBI triple and scored on a throwing error. The Gorillas added one more in the frame when Evan Thomas reached via error, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single by Brad Foss.

Howe collected his second double of the game in the eighth and brought in Blake Marino to make it 4-3 Pittsburg State.

A fielding error with two outs allowed an insurance run to score for the Gorillas in the bottom of the inning.

Truman's last ditch effort came with two outs in the ninth. Hahn drew a two-out walk and Trenhaile doubled him in to make it 6-5. Marino then lined out to right to end the game.

Both starters, Tim Lee for Truman and Jake Stevenson of Pittsburg State, lasted seven innings with Stevenson picking up the win. James Fitzgearlds got the save.

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