Courtesy of Midland Athletics
TEMPE, Ariz. – Facing stout test in their first weekend in No. 13-ranked Vanguard University, Midland University baseball showed it could compete with anyone as they dropped a close 13-5 contest in Arizona. The loss drops the Warriors to 3-1 on the season as their seasoning opening road trip comes to a close.
Vanguard used a pair of high-scoring innings to secure their 10th win of the season (in 12 games played). The Lions pounced ahead with four runs in the first and then added five more in the fourth.
Midland notched their first run of the game in the third as Peyton Garbers drove in Dakota Thornton with a sacrifice fly to right field.
The rest of the Warriors’ offense came in the seventh during a two-out rally.
After the first two batters were set down via a flyout and a groundout, Harold Urban got things going with a pinch-hit single. Connor Petersen followed up with a double down the left-field line that scored the first run for Midland.
Kyle Weber would come on to pinch run for Petersen and he was quickly joined on the base paths by Tyler Foster who drew a walk. Chase Reynolds drove both of them in with a double to left field and then was driven home by Thornton who singled to right field.
Hilton Mehrmann went 3.0 innings in his collegiate debut. He struck out three batters while allowing seven earned runs.
Statistical Standouts
- Dakota Thornton: 3-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 3B
- Chase Reynolds: 1-for 4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 2B
- Connor Petersen: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 2B
- Peyton Garbers: 0-for-3, SF, 1 RBI
Up next for the Warriors, after their 20-hour bus ride home will be a much shorter trip to Joplin, Missouri for the Joplin Invitational. Midland (3-1) will take on Presentation (1-3) and Graceland (1-1) on Saturday, February 26, and then play a doubleheader with Clarke (3-4) on Sunday, February 27.
