Courtesy of Midland Athletics
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Midland University traveled up to Sioux City, Iowa to take on Morningside University in a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) doubleheader. Warriors split the doubleheader against the Mustangs, taking the 6-5 win in game one before dropping game two 11-7.
GAME ONE: Midland 6, Morningside 5
Looking to rally with two outs on the board in the top of the 1st, Hadyn Crawford started the momentum for the Warriors with a single down the right-field line. The next pitch hit Connor Petersen and then Jacob Liquori tripled to right field to bring the first two runs of the game.
Back-to-back singles by Alex Villanueva and Nathaniel Reyes got the Warriors started in the 2nd. Beau Boyle hit a one-out single to center field, bringing home Villanueva. Reyes and Boyle pulled off the double steal to get two runners in scoring position but only one came in on the sacrifice fly by Yealex Lopez. Through one-and-a-half innings, Midland held a commanding 4-0 lead.
The Mustangs broke their scoring drought in the bottom of the innings with a solo home run to right field, making it 4-1 after two complete innings.
After a quiet 3rd inning, Villanueva got the offense going again in the 4th with a single to center field. Reyes was walked and then Villanueva stole third base. With runners on the corners, Reyes stole second and Villanueva swiped home, the second double steal of the game for Midland. Lopez drove in Reyes with a single to center field as the Warriors boosted their lead to 6-1.
Down to its final three outs in the 7th inning, Morningside attempted a comeback. Midland yielded a single and got two outs before the rally began. The Mustangs hit an RBI triple, an RBI single, and then a two-run homer. They ultimately fell short as Trey Nichols came on to get a strikeout to end the game.
Jonathan Foreman earned the win of the contest as he pitched 6.2 innings with eight hits, five runs, and two strikeouts. Nichols earned the save with the strikeout for the game’s final out.
Statistical Standouts
- Yealex Lopez: 2-for-3, 2 RBI
- Jacob Liquori: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 3B
- Beau Boyle: 1-for-4, RBI
- Alec Villanueva: 3-for-3, 2 R, 2 SB
- Nathaniel Reyes: 2-for-2, 2 R, SB
GAME TWO: Morningside 11, Midland 7
Morningside’s bats fired up in the second game as they took the early advantage with five runs in the bottom of the 1st. They would add three more in the 3rd as they looked to split the doubleheader.
Alec Villanueva helped get Midland’s offense going in the 4th as he tripled to center field. During the next at-bat, he was able to sprint home after a wild pitch.
An inning later, Jayden Gibson started the Warriors off with a double down the left-field line and advanced to third on a throwing error. Beau Boyle singled down the left-field line to bring Gibson home. Yealex Lopez followed with a double down the left field line to put two Warriors in scoring position. A sacrifice fly by Hadyn Crawford brought in the second run of the inning to make it an 8-3 game.
The Mustangs’ scoring continued in the 7th inning, as they scored three more runs off four hits, boosting their lead to 11-3.
Looking to make a comeback, Midland started strong in the 8th inning with a single by Crawford, followed by Petersen who was hit by the pitch. The bases were loaded up full of Warriors as Villanueva singled to left.
Jacob Liquori took advantage of the RBI opportunity as he struck his bat to double to left center to bring in Petersen and Crawford. Nathaniel Reyes singled to first base on a bunt, bringing home Villanueva, and then moved up to second off a wild pitch. After a single by Gibson to third base, Trystan Mills came in as a courtesy runner. A sacrifice fly by Trey Nichols, allowed Liquori to find his way home as Midland inched back to within four runs. The comeback attempt, and the inning, came to an abrupt close as Boyle hit into a fielder’s choice which was turned into a double play as interference was called as the Mustangs were attempting to turn a double-play.
In the 9th, the Warriors got two runners aboard but the game ended as the Morningside closer came in to get a strikeout and a groundout.
Statistical Standouts
- Alec Villanueva: 3-for-5, 2 R, 3B
- Jacob Liquori: 1-for-4, R, 2 RBI, 2B
- Hadyn Crawford: 1-3, R, RBI, SAC
- Beau Boyle: 2-for-5, R, RBI
- Nathaniel Reyes: 1-for-3, RBI
Up next, Midland (17-19, 9-9 GPAC) will host a conference doubleheader against Hastings (11-23, 5-9 GPAC) on Sunday. The first pitch of game one is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on April 15, at Moller Field in Fremont, Nebraska.
