SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Coming off a doubleheader sweep the day before, Midland University took on Morningside College in a second conference doubleheader on Sunday afternoon in Sioux City, Iowa. The Warriors and Mustangs switched roles as the home team rallied back with a big inning in both games to take both games, 6-2 and 8-2, at Lewis and Clark Park.
The losses drop Midland to 18-23 overall and 7-13 in Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) play. Morningside’s record now sits at 19-24 and 11-9.
Game 1: Morningside 6, Midland 2
After giving up a run in the bottom of the 1st inning to the Mustangs, Midland plated two runs of their own to take the lead in the top half of the 3rd inning. With two outs, Matt Abdelnour drove in Chase Reynolds and Peyton Garbers. Reynolds had reached via a dropped third strike while Garbers singled to left field. Abdelnour followed up his hit with a stolen base to get into scoring position but was stranded as the next Warrior grounded out to end the inning.
The home half of the inning saw Morningside regain the lead and then some as they pushed across five runs on five hits. That inning would prove to be the final runs for either team as the pitching staff for both teams allowed just two hits each the remaining three innings.
Statistical Leaders:
- Matt Abdelnour: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, SB
- Peyton Garbers: 2-for-4, 1 R
- Chase Reynolds: 4.0 innings, 2 K
Game 2: Morningside 8, Midland 2
In the final game of the weekend series, Midland scored a run in the 1st and one on the 3rd as they built a 2-0 lead over Morningside. In the opening frame, Matt Abdelnour drove in Chase Reynolds with an RBI double to left field. Reynold would garner the second RBI of the game in the 3rd as he drove in Kyle Weber with a double of his own.
The Mustangs battled back to tie the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the 3rd and then busted the game wide open an inning later with five runs in the 4th. They loaded the bases with help from a pair of Warrior errors and a walk. After a sacrifice fly drove in the first run, a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases once more just prior to a grand slam by the Mustangs. Morningside plated an additional insurance run the following inning and took the game 8-2.
Statistical Leaders:
- Chase Reynolds: 3-for-5, 2B, 1 run, 2 RBI
- Matt Abdelnour: 2-for-4, 2B, 1 RBI
- Steven Boyd: 4.0 innings, 0 ER, 3 K
- Matthew Wickwire: 3.0 innings, 0 hits, 1 K
Up next:
Midland (18-23, 7-13 GPAC) will take on Northwestern (15-21, 8-12 GPAC) next weekend in a four-game series. The teams will play a doubleheader in Fremont, Nebraska on Saturday and a doubleheader on Sunday in Orange City, Iowa. Both game ones are slated for 4:00 p.m. first pitches.
