Game 1 | Game 2 | Season Stats

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- SBU baseball got back on the winning track in the second game of Monday's doubleheader against Pittsburg State, knocking off the Gorillas, 9-6, after falling 4-1 in the opener. Niko Saladis extended his hitting streak to a season-high eight games after cranking a double in the first game, then coming just a home run short of the cycle in the second game, going 4-for-6, and knocking in three RBI and scoring a run.

The Bearcats got on the board first, when freshman third baseman Lendon Ehlman cranked a double down the right field line; then after advancing to third on a wild pitch, scored when Nigel Morton singled through the right side. Catcher Steven Davis reclaimed the lead after the Gorillas got a run back, with his first home run of the season in the third inning. A string of singles brought in Taylor Trotter for the second run of the inning, and SBU took a 3-1 advantage.

Pittsburg State came back with three runs in the fifth inning, making it a 5-4 Gorilla lead. While Pitt State was preparing to celebrate a sweep, the 'Cats retook the lead in the eighth inning for good, when Saladis tripled in Justin Crumpley and Justin Barnhart for a 6-5 Bearcat lead. SBU tacked on three more in the ninth, and after holding off a bases-loaded rally, got the pop-up for the final out. Wes Burrell came on in relief in the seventh inning to earn the win.

With the split, SBU moves to 3-16 on the year, and 2-10 in the MIAA. The Bearcats return home this Friday, when they host nationally-ranked Emporia State for a four-game set, starting at 1 p.m.