MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State baseball team opens their 2018 season on the road this weekend with a four-game series at Pittsburg State in Pittsburg, Kan.
The Beavers and Gorillas will play a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., followed by two nine-inning games on Sunday at 1 p.m. and Monday at 12 p.m. The games on Sunday and Monday could get moved to a doubleheader on Sunday with possible rain in the forecast.
Head coach
Scott Eul enters his second season leading the Minot State program and returns seven starters and 18 letterwinners from last season's squad that posted a record of 29-22.
Senior
Justin Demary and junior
Michael Borst were tabbed as Players to Watch in the NSIC this season.
Demary, a utility player and pitcher, batted .288 with 11 doubles and 11 RBI while scoring 30 runs last season. The Lake Charles, La. native posted a 6-2 record with nine starts and 13 appearances on the mound. Demary notched a 3.19 ERA and tallied 48 strikeouts in 67.2 innings of work.
Borst, a first baseman and outfielder, earned All-NSIC Second Team honors after finishing second in the NSIC with 59 RBI and hitting .361 with a team-high six home runs, two triples and 12 doubles. The McHenry, Ill. native started 49 games last season and was one of four Beavers to start in 49 or more games.
The Gorillas are 3-3 on the season. Pitt State posted a 2-1 record in its most recent action in a three-game series against Colorado State University-Pueblo last Thursday and Friday (Feb. 8-9). The Gorillas dropped the series opener against the ThunderWolves, 13-12, before taking 3-2 and 6-3 wins to close out the series.
As a team, Pitt State is hitting .298 and scoring 7.0 runs per game. The Gorillas have a 7.74 team ERA on the mound.
Senior shortstop Colton Pogue has led the Pitt State offense. He has team-leading .435 batting average with eight runs scored and seven RBIs. Senior outfielder Hunter Clanin also is batting .375 with six runs scored, three doubles and seven RBIs.
