Courtesy of Midland Athletics
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Midland University took a short trip to Sioux City, Iowa for a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) doubleheader against Briar Cliff University on Saturday afternoon. In the first game, the Warriors staged a thrilling comeback, winning 8-6 in extra innings. In the second game, their comeback efforts came up just short, falling 7-5 to split with the Chargers for the day.
GAME ONE: Midland 8, Briar Cliff 6 (8 innings)
Joshua Hardamon kickstarted the opening inning with a double, setting the stage for Hadyn Crawford‘s two-run home run to left field, granting the Warriors an early advantage.
The Chargers responded in the bottom of the inning with a double and an RBI single, narrowing the gap to 2-1.
Midland kept its momentum rolling into the 2nd as Garrett Freeman earned a walk and Dax Wandler followed up with an RBI double, extending the lead to 3-1.
Briar Cliff fought back in the bottom half, scoring a pair of runs on three hits to level the score at 3-3 after two complete innings.
Deven Gomez sparked the Warriors’ offense in the 4th with a leadoff double. Then, he capitalized on a Chargers’ error to advance to third. Freeman came through with a timely single, propelling the Warriors back into the lead at 4-3.
After a pair of scoreless innings, Josh Hardamon delivered a homer in the 7th, pushing the Warriors in front, 5-3.
The Chargers staged a comeback in the bottom of the 7th, knotting the score with two sacrifice flies to force the game into extra innings.
In the 8th, Tyler Struck ignited the Warriors’ offense with a one-out double. Dax Wandlerearned a walk put two runners. Following the second out of the inning, Nathaniel Reyescame through with a three-run homer to left center, vaulting the Warriors ahead 8-5. In the bottom half, Briar Cliff was able to take advantage of a leadoff triple, scoring one run with an infield ground out before Cody Kent closed out the victory, 8-6.
Statistical Standouts
- Nathaniel Reyes: 2-for-5, R, 3 RBI, HR
- Joshua Hardamon: 2-for-5, 2 R, RBI, 2B, HR
- Hadyn Crawford: 1-for-2, R, 2 RBI, HR, 2 BB
- Garrett Freeman: 1-for-2, R, RBI, BB, SAC
- Dax Wandler: 1-for-3, R, RBI, 2B, BB
GAME TWO: Briar Cliff 7, Midland 5
Joshua Hardamon set the tone for game two with a solo home run in the opening inning.
After a quick 1st, the Chargers retaliated in the 2nd with a two-run homer followed by a solo shot, snatching a 3-1 lead.
Briar Cliff maintained their momentum in the 4th, launching back-to-back homers once more. They drove in three more runs to extend their lead to 6-1. They tacked on another run in the 5th, taking control of the contest.
In the 6th, Nathaniel Reyes kickstarted a Warriors’ rally with a walk. Hardamon followed with a two-run homer, his second of the game, to cut into the deficit. Deven Gomez kept things going as he was hit by a pitch to get aboard with one out. Connor Petersen drove him in with a double and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Garrett Freeman capitalized with a timely single, narrowing the gap to 7-5.
Despite a valiant comeback effort by the Warriors, the hometown Chargers shut the door in the 7th, for the 7-5 win and a series split.
Statistical Standouts
- Joshua Hardamon: 2-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 HR
- Connor Petersen: 1-for-3, R, RBI, 2B
- Garrett Freeman: 1-for-2, RBI, BB
- Kobe Sandstrom: 2-for-2, 2 2B, BB
Midland (23-14, 9-9 GPCA) will travel to Crete, Nebraska to take on Doane (28-8, 14-4 GPAC) in a conference doubleheader on Sunday, April 14. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the Doane Ballfield Complex.
