Courtesy of Midland Athletics
HASTINGS, Neb. – Midland University traveled to Hastings, Nebraska, on Thursday night for a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) doubleheader. The Warriors dropped game one in a close 5-3 contest but bounced back strong in game two with a commanding 10-2 victory.
GAME ONE: Hastings 5, Midland 3
Hastings opened the first inning with four hits, driving in three runs to take an early 3-0 lead.
After a quiet second inning, the Broncos’ offense picked up again in the third, recording three more hits and adding two runs to extend their lead to 5-0.
Midland broke its scoreless streak in the fourth as Chris Ortega got the Warriors going with a single. Hadyn Crawford followed with a double to right-center, bringing Ortega home. A single by Eimir Perez then drove in Crawford, cutting the deficit to 5-2.
The Warriors continued to battle in the sixth. Nate Reyes reached on a Broncos’ error, and Jacob Liquori followed with a single to bring him in, narrowing the gap to 5-3.
Hastings was able to hold off Midland’s late push, shutting down the Warriors in the final inning to seal the 5-3 win.
Statistical Standouts
- Hadyn Crawford: 2-for-3, RBI, 2B, R
- Eimir Perez: 1-for-3, RBI
GAME TWO: Midland 10, Hastings 2
Joshua Hardamon got the Warriors started with a walk, followed by a single through the left side by Ortega to move him to third. Liquori ripped a double to bring in Hardamon, giving Midland an early 1-0 lead.
Perez led off the second with a single to keep the momentum going. Kobe Sandstrom was hit by a pitch, and Ben Kirkland entered as the courtesy runner. A sacrifice bunt advanced both runners, and Boyle was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A sacrifice fly brought in Perez, and Ortega followed with a double to score Kirkland and Boyle, making it 4-0.
Hastings got on the board in the bottom of the inning with a double and single to score one run.
Liquori opened the third with a triple and came home on a sacrifice fly. Sandstrom walked, and Kirkland again ran for him. After a stolen base, Bouges singled to move Kirkland to third, and Boyle brought him in with a single. Crawford followed with a single, and Sorensen entered to run. Liquori singled to move Sorensen to third, and he scored on a wild pitch.
Reyes and Perez added back-to-back singles, putting runners on the corners. Perez stole second, and Sandstrom walked to load the bases. Another sacrifice fly plated Reyes to make it 8-1.
After a scoreless fifth, Perez sparked the offense again with a two-out triple in the sixth. Sandstrom singled him in to push the lead to 9-1.
Hastings plated a second run in the bottom of the sixth on two hits.
Midland added one final run in the seventh as Boyle tripled and scored on a wild pitch.
Zachary Vincent shut the door in the final inning to earn the complete-game win.
Statistical Standouts
- Brody Boyle: 2-for-2, RBI, 2 R, 3B
- Chris Ortega: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
- Jacob Liquori: 3-for-4, RBI, R, 3B, 2B
- Eimir Perez: 3-for-4, 2 R, 3B, 2 SB
- Kobe Sandstrom: 1-for-1, RBI
Midland (16-24, 12-10 GPAC) will travel to Yankton, South Dakota, to take on Mount Marty University (22-16, 9-11 GPAC) in a conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 19. First pitch of game one is set for 3:30 p.m.
