SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Midland University began their weekend series with Morningside College on Saturday with a doubleheader sweep. The Warriors rallied back to win a 3-2 game in the opener and then rode a late-inning surge to a 9-7 win the game two. With the wins, Midland improves to 7-11 in conference play and 18-21 overall.
Game 1: Midland 3, Morningside 2
After giving up a run in the 2nd and another in the 4th inning, Midland tied the game with two runs in the top of the 5th and then took the lead an inning later for the 3-2 victory.
After getting the leadoff batter aboard via a Mustangs’ error, Tyler Foster hit a one-out single to advance Trey Nichols to third base. A wild pitch in the next at-bat scored Nichols and moved Foster into scoring position. After a walk issued to Sam Braun, Chase Reynolds moved Foster to third with a fielder’s choice. Reynolds and Foster would execute a double steal as the Warriors tied the game at 2-2.
A 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth by James Scurto and the Midland defense brought the Warriors back up to the plate in short time. Peyton Garbers got things going with a double down the leftfield line and then moved to third following a wild pitch. After a walk and a strikeout, Trey Nichols drove Garbers in via a groundout to third base. Midland would work the bases full with a pair of walks but left them full.
Scurto would close the door on Morningside in the 6th and 7th, getting a lineout, two groundouts, two strikeouts, and then a fly out to right field for the complete-game victory.
Statistical Leaders:
James Scurto: 7.0 IP, 5 hits, 2 ER, 2 K
Trey Nichols: 1-for-1, 1 RBI, 1 R
Tyler Foster: 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 SB
Game 2: Midland 9, Morningside 7
The second game of the doubleheader saw the Mustangs build a 6-1 lead through six innings against starter Brendon Jones. He threw 107 pitches in 5.2 innings of work, allowing 6 earned runs while striking out 4 batters. His teammates would keep him from being saddled with the loss though as they exploded for 8 runs in the top of the 7th inning.
Trailing by 5 runs, Midland’s offense came alive for 8 runs on 7 hits with 1 error by Morningside in the top of the 7th. The Mustangs used three pitchers in the inning as the Warriors sent 12 batters to the plate. Kyle Weber, Peyton Garbers, Dakota Thornton, Matt Abdelnour, Sam Braun, and Connor Petersen (2) all had RBIs in the inning.
With a 9-6 lead and 9 outs to get defensively, Lucas Hamzeh and Steven Boyd shut the door as they worked the 7th and 8th innings, allowing just one run. In the 9th, Abdelnour came in and locked it with two strikeouts in the 9th for his third save of the season.
Statistical Leaders:
Matt Abdelnour: 2-for-5, 1 RBI, 1.0 IP, 2 K
Dakota Thornton: 3-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 R
Sam Braun: 3-for-5, 1 RBI, 2 R
Connor Petersen: 3-for-5, 3 RBI, 1 R
Up Next
The Warriors and Mustangs will continue their weekend series with a second doubleheader on Sunday in Sioux City. First pitch of game one is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Lewis and Clark Park.
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