Courtesy of Midland Athletics
MESA, Ariz. – Midland University wrapped up its trip to Arizona with a doubleheader against Park University-Gilbert on Saturday afternoon. The Warriors asserted their dominance in the first game, securing a 9-2 victory, and then rallied from two runs down to take the second game, 4-2.
GAME ONE: Midland 9, Park-Gilbert 2
After two quiet innings, Tyler Struck ignited the Warriors in the 3rd inning with a double. As Ben Kirkland stepped in as a pinch runner, Nathaniel Reyes joined him on the bases after being hit by a pitch. With two outs, consecutive singles by Yealex Lopez and Joshua Hardamon brought home Kirkland. Hadyn Crawford struck his bat for a double, scoring Lopez and Reyes and concluding the inning with the Warriors leading 4-0.
Connor Petersen singled to open up the 4th inning. Tyler Struck hit a triple to center field to drive Petersen home, growing the lead to 5-0.
Garrett Freeman kickstarted the 6th inning with a single. With Jake Liquori stepping in as a pinch runner, Petersen followed with a single. Both Liquori and Petersen advanced on a passed ball and then Tyler Struck‘s fielder’s choice brought Liquori home, concluding the top of the 6th.
In the bottom of the inning, the Buccaneers ended their scoreless streak, scoring two runs.
In the 7th, Lopez reached first on an error ahead of a longball from Hardamon. He sent the ball over the fence for his second home run of the season. Crawford and Freeman’s back-to-back doubles brought home another run, securing a well-earned 9-2 victory for Midland over Park-Gilbert.
Cole Hupke earned the win with 5.0 innings pitched, allowing 3 runs while striking out 8. Keegan Adams came in relief, pitching 2.0 innings. He ceded a pair of runs on 2 hits and 3 walks. Adams had a pair of strikeouts.
Statistical Standouts
- Hadyn Crawford: 3-4, 3 RBI, R, 2 2B
- Tyler Struck: 2-3, 2 RBI, 3B
- Joshua Hardamon: 2-4, 2 RBI, 2 R, HR
- Garrett Freeman: 2-4, RBI, 2B
- Yealex Lopez: 1-4, RBI, 2 R
- Cole Hupke: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 8 K
GAME TWO: Midland 5, Park-Gilbert 2
After a quiet 1st inning, the Buccaneers seized an early advantage with two runs. They got their first runner on an infield error and then the second runner got on base via a hit by pitch. A double established a 2-0 lead for the home team after two innings.
Following a scoreless 3rd by both sides, Hadyn Crawford kickstarted the Warriors’ half of the 4th with a single and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Garrett Freeman‘s groundout advanced Crawford to third, positioning him 90 feet from home. With one and one on, Connor Petersen stepped up and drove in the first Midland run with a grounder to shortstop.
In the 5th, the momentum shifted to the visiting dugout as Nathaniel Reyes hit a triple to right-center. Deven Gomez‘s ensuing double to right brought in the game-tying run. Yealex Lopez then reached via a fielder’s choice. Heads up base running allowed him to advance to second. Josh Hardamon singled to put runners on the corners with two outs. During the next at-bat, the Bucs’ hurler got wild and sent a pitch to the backstop. That allowed Lopez to score and Hardamon to move up to second base. Midland took over the lead 3-2 and carried that advantage into the next inning after a four-batter bottom half by Park-Gilbert.
Connor Petersen reached via an error with one out in the 6th and the coaching staff brought on Jake Liquori to pinch run as they looked to extend their lead. Liquori moved up to second on a wild pitch, and Alec Villanueva‘s single to center field, coupled with an error, allowed Liquori to cross the plate, propelling the Warriors ahead 4-2.
Down to their final three outs, the Buccaneers show resiliency as they loaded up the bases with just one out thanks to patience at the plate, drawing a pair of walks. Midland’s closer, Darius Blasingane, who was making his second appearance of the season and his first save opportunity, settled in to record the final two outs protecting the 4-2 victory and a doubleheader sweep.
Brandon Creps earned the win for the Warriors, pitching 2.2 innings in relief. He finished his outing with four strikeouts and four hits while facing 13 batters.
Statistical Standouts
- Deven Gomez: 1-3, RBI, BB
- Alec Villanueva: 1-3, R, RBI
- Hadyn Crawford: 2-4, R
“What is special about this group is how close they are and how willing they are to play their role,” said head coach Shea Bennett after a 5-1 opening weekend. “It took everyone on this trip and they proved they are a strong family. The energy on the last day of the weekend was something special to be a part of. We had a few guys who stepped up in big moments with a lot of emotions and personal things that are going on with family. I am very proud of Brandon and Darius for stepping up big for us. Proud of our whole group for rallying behind them. Special group.”
The Warriors will make the long bus ride home to Nebraska before hopping back on another in two weeks. Midland (5-1) will travel to Parkville, Missouri to face Waldorf (1-0) and Valley City State (3-3) in a pair of split-day doubleheaders on Saturday, February 24, and on Sunday, February 25.
