Rains' Bacon Finding Success in 1st Season at Pitt State

Former Rains Wildcat Eric Bacon is tearing it up at the plate for Pittsburg State

Mar. 31, 2026 at 1:39am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball player's batting motion broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant colors, conveying the raw energy and athleticism of the sport.Bacon's explosive offensive production has fueled Pittsburg State's strong start to the season.Hays Today

Eric Bacon, a former standout at Rains High School, is enjoying a breakout first season playing for the Pittsburg State Gorillas baseball team. Bacon is hitting .430 with 5 home runs, 52 RBIs and 58 runs scored, helping lead the Gorillas to a 26-6 overall record and 15-6 in conference play so far this season.

Why it matters

Bacon's success at the Division II level after starring at the junior college level shows his continued development as a player. His performance is drawing attention back to his hometown of Rains, where he was a standout high school player, and highlights the pipeline of talent from East Texas to the college ranks.

The details

Bacon spent two seasons at Coffeyville Community College before transferring to Pittsburg State this year. He said the transition from junior college to Division II has been marked by more maturity and focus from his teammates, with everyone knowing what they want to accomplish. Bacon credits his former Coffeyville coach, Martin, for teaching him the importance of team goals over individual stats. Bacon chose Pittsburg State after scrimmaging against them while at Coffeyville and being impressed by the program.

  • Bacon is in his first season playing for Pittsburg State in 2026.
  • Bacon spent two seasons playing at Coffeyville Community College prior to this year.

The players

Eric Bacon

A former standout baseball player at Rains High School who is now in his first season playing for the Pittsburg State Gorillas, where he is hitting .430 with 5 home runs, 52 RBIs and 58 runs scored.

Coach Martin

Bacon's former coach at Coffeyville Community College, who taught him the importance of team goals over individual stats.

Mike Trout

The Los Angeles Angels outfielder that Bacon models his game after.

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What they’re saying

“I'd say it's going pretty well as you just read off and, you know, it's just like we're all together. We're not separate at all. We're all together and just very cohesive as a unit.”

— Eric Bacon, Pittsburg State Baseball Player

“It was tough at first. My freshman year I struggled a lot, got yelled at a lot. Coach Martin definitely let me know whenever I was in the wrong. But he also taught me the ways of how to play baseball. Like you just can't be selfish all the time. It's not a one person thing. It's a team thing. And everybody needs to come together if they want to have a common goal and win and eventually go to the next level.”

— Eric Bacon, Pittsburg State Baseball Player

“The person that I would look up for the most would be my dad. Like my dad, he went to NSU (Northeastern State), which is in our conference. He taught me the game all the way. Growing up, he taught me how to do things. And yeah, he's just been a huge role model in my life.”

— Eric Bacon, Pittsburg State Baseball Player

What’s next

Pittsburg State has lost three games in a row, but still holds a 26-6 overall record, 15-6 in conference play. The Gorillas travel to Hays, Kansas, on Thursday to begin a three-game series against Fort Hays State.

The takeaway

Bacon's breakout season at Pittsburg State showcases the talent pipeline from East Texas high schools to the college ranks, as well as the importance of strong coaching and mentorship in developing young players both on and off the field.