Courtesy of Midland Athletics
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Midland University wrapped up its four-game series at Dordt University with a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The Warriors split the day, securing an exciting 13-6 win in game one before falling in a hard-fought 11-5 loss in game two. Despite the split, Midland clinched the series victory over the Defenders.
GAME ONE: Midland 13, Dordt 6
Brody Boyle opened the game by getting hit by a pitch, and Joshua Hardamon followed with a single to right field, putting runners on the corners. Hardamon advanced to second on a wild pitch, and Haydn Crawford drew a walk. Another wild pitch allowed Hardamon to score, and Nate Reyes drew a walk to load the bases. Eimir Perez then walked as well, bringing home Crawford and giving the Warriors an early 2-0 lead.
After three scoreless innings, Chris Ortega sparked the offense in the fifth by drawing a walk, with Chase Bouges coming in to pinch run. Crawford stepped up and crushed a two-run homer. Jacob Liquori followed with a solo home run. Perez kept the momentum going with a double, and Dax Wandler followed with a walk, allowing Perez to advance to third. A sacrifice fly brought Perez home, stretching the Warriors’ lead to 6-0.
The Defenders responded in the bottom of the fifth, breaking their scoreless streak with a rally of eight hits that brought in six runs, tying the game at 6-6.
In the top of the sixth, Hardamon came through again, blasting a solo home run to give the Warriors a 7-6 lead.
Midland’s bats stayed hot in the seventh. Liquori and Perez hit back-to-back singles, and the bases were loaded when Wandler reached on an error. Cooper Benecke came in to pinch hit and delivered a single to center, scoring Liquori. Boyle then crushed a grand slam. Bouges and Crawford added to the rally with a single and a double, with Crawford scoring on a wild pitch to cap the scoring.
The Warriors sealed a 13-6 victory in game one.
Statistical Standouts
- Brody Boyle: 1-for-4, 4 RBI, 2 R, HR
- Joshua Hardamon: 3-for-5, RBI, 2 R, HR, 2B
- Haydn Crawford: 4-for-4, 2 RBI, R, HR, 2B
- Jacob Liquori: 3-for-4, RBI, 2 R
- Eimir Perez: 2-for-4, RBI, 2B, 2 R
- Cooper Benecke: 1-for-1, RBI, R
GAME TWO: Dordt 11, Midland 5
Dordt got on the board first, stringing together two hits to bring in three runs and take an early 3-0 lead.
Crawford responded in the second inning with a solo home run to put Midland on the board. Wandler kept the momentum going in the third with a leadoff double, and Kobe Sandstromfollowed with a single to drive him home, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
The Defenders added a run in the fourth on a walk and a single, extending their lead to 4-2, then added a solo home run in the fifth to make it 5-2.
Hardamon sparked the Warriors in the sixth with a leadoff single. Ortega followed with a two-run homer to bring Midland within one. Crawford doubled, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 5-5.
Dordt’s offense came alive again in the bottom of the sixth with a grand slam, followed by back-to-back solo home runs to break the game open at 11-5.
The Defenders shut down Midland’s offense the rest of the way to secure the win and avoid the sweep.
Statistical Standouts
- Chris Ortega: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, R, 2B, HR
- Haydn Crawford: 2-for-4, RBI, 2 R, 2B, HR
Midland (15-23, 11-9 GPAC) will travel to face Hastings (7-25, 4-14 GPAC) in a conference doubleheader on Thursday, April 17. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Duncan Field in Hastings, Nebraska.
