Courtesy of Midland Athletics
OSKALOOSA, Iowa – Midland University traveled to Oskaloosa, Iowa for a weekend slate of games against Judson University and William Penn University. The Warriors split the first day of games on the home field of WPU. In the opener, MU mounted a comeback, overturning a 6-2 deficit heading into the final inning with ten runs to secure a 12-6 victory over Judson. Game two saw the host Statesmen limit the Warriors’ offense to just one hit while scoring a pair for the 2-0 win.
GAME ONE: MIDLAND 12, JUDSON 6
The Eagles secured a two-run lead in the bottom of the 1st inning.
Following a few quiet innings for both teams, the 4th inning commenced with Hadyn Crawford drawing a walk, prompting Trystan Mills to step in as a pinch runner. Connor Petersen singled to get on base, and a throwing error by the Eagles allowed both runners to advance. Alec Villanueva‘s single brought home Mills and Petersen, tying the score at 2-2.
Judson answered in the bottom of the 5th, adding two more runs to lead 4-2. They heightened the pressure in the bottom of the 6th, scoring two additional runs to extend their lead to 6-2 heading into the final scheduled inning.
The 7th inning began with Yealex Lopez getting hit by a pitch and advancing to third after consecutive balks by the Eagles’ pitcher. Josh Hardamon singled to left field, bringing Lopez home. After advancing to second on a balk, Hardamon reached third on a sacrifice groundout. A subsequent balk allowed Hardamon to score.
Connor Petersen earned a walk, and Nathaniel Reyes entered as a pinch runner. Alec Villanueva worked a quick walk to put the tying runs on base. Garrett Freeman stepped up and singled to left field, filling the bases with Warriors with two outs.
Coming into pinch hit, Dax Wandler drew a walk, bringing Reyes home. Jake Liquori followed with another walk, the fourth of the inning, bringing Villanueva home and tying the game at 6-6.
Things continued to slide for the Eagles as a wild pitch scored the go-ahead run for Midland as the lineup flipped over. Lopez and Deven Gomez earned walks five and six of the inning, pushing the lead to two runs and loading the bases for Hardamon. It was a grand finale to the comeback as Hardamon delivered a grand slam, giving the Warriors a comfortable 12-6 lead heading into the bottom of the 7th.
Judson could not undo the damage of the top half of the inning as Brandon Creps effectively held them to just two hits to secure the win. Creps earned the win, going 2.1 innings on the mound, scattering five hits with two earned runs and a pair of strikeouts. Lucas Hamzeh went 4.2 innings without a decision in the start.
Statistical Standouts
- Joshua Hardamon: 2-for-5, 2 R, 5 RBI, HR
- Alec Villanueva: 3-for-3, R, 2 RBI, BB, 2B
- Yealex Lopez: 1-for-2, 2 R, BB
GAME TWO: WILLIAM PENN 2, MIDLAND 0
After three scoreless innings to start the contest, the Statesmen push across the game’s first run in the bottom of the 4th inning. A pair of doubles put them up 1-0 at the midway point of the seven-inning game.
William Penn extended its advantage with another run in the 5th inning. They were able to work the bases loaded with a pair of singles and a hit batter, then sacrificed home the insurance run. Their defense and pitching were dominant, holding the Warriors to just one hit and one walk on the afternoon. Midland’s hurlers were nearly as effective with a combined 12 strikeouts.
Statistical Standouts
- Cole Hupke: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 9 K
- Owen Kelley: 1.2 IP, H, 3 K
Midland (8-4) will face the same two teams on Saturday as they complete their trip to Iowa. The Warriors will face Judson at 10:30 a.m., then take on William Penn at 3:30 p.m. on March 2 in Oskaloosa.
