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BSB: Warriors Begin Series Against Dordt with Pair of Wins

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Courtesy of Midland Athletics 

FREMONT, Neb. – Midland University and Dordt University began their weekend Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) series on Friday at Moller Field. The first set of games, scheduled to be played in Sioux Center, Iowa, was moved to Fremont due to winter weather delaying the Defenders’ field being ready. The Warriors’ offense provided plenty of heat on a cool night as they took both games in dominating fashion, 10-1 and 19-4.

GAME ONE: Midland 10, Dordt 1

The Warriors started strong in the first, scoring four runs off three hits and one error by the Defenders. With Jacob Liquori walked to put him at first, Dax Wandler doubled to put two Warriors in scoring distance. Hadyn Crawford followed with a double to bring the two Warriors home. With an error by the Defenders, Jayden Gibson reached first on a fielder’s choice, allowing Crawford to score. Connor Petersen singled to keep the momentum going. Alec Villanueva reached first on a fielder’s choice enabling the fourth run to score before the inning ended.

After holding the Defenders to zero runs in the first, The Warriors scored a run in 2nd as Trey Rodriguez singled. A balk by the Dordt pitcher moved him into scoring position and after Jacob Liquori reached first on an error, Rodriguez moved over to third. A sacrifice groundout by Wandler brought Rodriguez home to increase the lead to 5-0.

The Defenders avoided the shutout with their lone run of the game coming in the bottom of the 2nd. They did so with a single, hit-by-pitch, and a walk to load the bases. The run came across on a fielder’s choice for the second out.

After a scoreless 3rd, Rodriguez with a walk. He advanced to second on a passed ball and then got over third on a ground out. A sacrifice fly by Wandler drove him in for the lone Midland run of the inning.

Tyler Foster opened up the 5th with a double and advanced to third on a groundout. He was able to chalk up the Warriors’ sixth run of the game on a wild pitch from the Defenders.

Midland boosted its lead in its final at-bat, scoring three runs off two hits. Foster drove in Connor Petersen who had reached via a walk, while Wandler drove in Yealex Lopez and Villanueva with a double to left field.

On the mound, Keegan Adams earned the complete-game win, as he pitched the full seven innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out eight batters.

Statistical Standouts

  • Dax Wandler: 2-for-4, 4 RBI, R, 2 2B
  • Hadyn Crawford: 1-4, 2 RBI, R, 2B
  • Tyler Foster: 1-3, RBI, R
  • Keegan Adams: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 8 K

GAME TWO: Midland 19, Dordt 4

The momentum from game one carried into the nightcap as Midland opened up the first, scoring three runs off two hits and an error. Jacob Liquori found himself at third base after a walk and a pair of wild pitches. Hadyn Crawford doubled to bring in the first run with one out and then scored himself as Connor Petersen hit a single to center. On the play, Petersen advanced to second on the throw home then showed off his speed, making it the final 180 feet, as the Defenders’ pitcher committed a throwing error trying to get the out at second.

In the 2nd, two more runs came across for Midland as they moved the lead to 5-0. Trey Rodriguez drove in Yealex Lopez with a sacrifice fly. Crawford then added to his RBI total as he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing Trey Nichols in.

The lone offensive inning for Dordt in game two came in the 2nd as they put together two hits and took advantage of an error by Midland. The miscue was costly as it kept the inning alive and allowed four unearned runs to come in.

The Warriors kept their bats producing as Villanueva opened the 3rd with a home run to right field. Lopez singled and then came around to score as Liquori singled up the middle for two RBIs, also scoring Nichols who was hit by a pitch in his at-bat. Dax Wandler then hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Rodriguez as the lead ballooned to 9-5.

With two singles by Lopez and Liquori, the Warriors scored two runs off two hits in the 4th inning.

Jayden Gibson homered to center field to bring the score to 12-4 in the fifth.

After a scoreless 6th, Petersen hit his first homer of the season. It was a solo shot over the left field to move the margin to nine runs, 13-4.

Needing just one run, combined with a clean bottom half of the inning, to invoke the run rule, the Warriors went out with a bang in the 8th. They scored six runs off just two hits, as the Defenders walked six batters in the inning to assist the Midland offense. The two hits, a double by Villanueva and a single by Xavior Salazar drove in three of the six runs. Two runs were gifted via bases-loaded walks and the final run came on a sacrifice fly by Liquori.

Jay Lambert earned the win of the game with five innings of work. He allowed no earned runs on three hits while striking out four. Zach Vincent came on in relief, going the final three innings. He gave up one hit while striking out 6 of the 12 batters he faced.

Statistical Standouts

  • Alec Villanueva: 2-for-5, 3 RBI, 3 R, 2B, HR, SB
  • Connor Petersen: 3-for-5, 3 RBI, 3 R, HR
  • Jacob Liquori: 2-for-4, 5 RBI, R, SAC
  • Hadyn Crawford: 1-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2B
  • Jayden Gibson: 1-for-5, RBI, HR

Midland (13-10, 4-1 GPAC) will be back in action on Saturday as they complete the weekend series with Dordt (12-10, 0-4). The first pitch of the conference doubleheader is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Moller Field in Fremont.

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