Courtesy of Midland Athletics
YANKTON, S.D. – Midland University was unable to avoid a four-game series sweep on Saturday as they dropped both games of a doubleheader to Mount Marty University in Yankton, South Dakota. Quiet bats for the Warriors combined with a strong Lancers pitching staff led to tough losses on day two of the weekend series. Mount Marty won 7-2 in game one and 4-1 in the series finale. The losses move Midland to 16-17 overall on the season and 8-8 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC).
GAME ONE: Mount Marty 7, Midland 2
The Lancers opened up the game in the bottom of the 1st with a solo home run to take the early lead.
After a scoreless start for the Warriors through the first two innings, Trey Rodriguez singled to right-center to get Midland started at the top of the 3rd. A double by Alec Villanuevabrought Rodriguez home to tie up the game. With just one out, Hadyn Crawford singled to center field to get Villanueva as the Warriors took the lead, 2-1.
Their lead was short-lived as the Lancers quickly regained it in the bottom of the innings with two runs on three hits.
Mount Marty continued its steady streak of hits as it boosted its lead in the 5th. Three singles and a sacrifice fly brought in another two runs to leave Midland trailing 7-2.
Runs were hard to come by for the Warriors as the Lancers’ pitching staff allowed just two hits the rest of the way. Midland mustered just five for the game, with one walk and six strikeouts.
Owen Kelley earned the start for the Warriors, going 3.0 innings with three runs allows (two earned) and two strikeouts. Zachary Vincent, Cody Kent, and Ben Brown all pitched 1.0 innings in relief with Brown registering two strikeouts in the final inning.
Statistical Standouts
- Alec Villanueva: 1-for-3, R, RBI, 2B
- Hadyn Crawford: 1-for-3, RBI
- Trey Rodriguez: 1-for-3, R
GAME TWO: Mount Marty 4, Midland 1
The Warriors’ bats stayed quiet in the second game as the Lancers only allowed three hits in the nine-inning contest. Midland had a solo run come around as Tyler Foster scored on a sacrifice fly by Yealex Lopez in the top of the 8th.
Mount Marty scored four runs in the contest. The first run was scored off a sacrifice fly in the 2nd, the second came home in the 3rd on an RBI double. The Lancers scored their final two runs in the 6th off a two-RBI double, giving them a 4-0 lead at the time.
Jay Lambert went 5.0 innings in his fourth start of the season. He struck out five batters while giving up two runs on three hits. Trey Nichols pitched the final 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits in relief.
Statistical Standouts
- Yealex Lopez: 1-for-2, RBI
- Connor Petersen: 1-for-4
- Nathaniel Reyes: 1-for-4
Midland (16-17) will be back in action on Monday night as they take on No. 5-ranked Bellevue (29-6) in a non-conference nine-inning contest. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on April 10 at Moller Field in Fremont, Nebraska.
