Courtesy of Midland Athletics
MITCHELL, S.D. – Midland University traveled to Mitchell, South Dakota, on Thursday afternoon for a Great Plains Athletic Conference doubleheader against Dakota Wesleyan. The Warriors dropped game one, 11-6, before bouncing back for an 8-4 win in game two to earn a split.
GAME ONE: Dakota Wesleyan 11, Midland 6
Brody Boyle led off the game with a double to left field and stole third base. A groundout brought him home to give Midland a 1-0 lead. Dakota Wesleyan responded in the bottom of the first with four hits, plating three runs to take a 3-1 advantage.
Hunter Spencer was hit by a pitch to open the second inning and stole second. Anthony Martinez followed with a single to center field to score Spencer and trim the deficit to 3-2.
Boyle and Dax Wandler recorded back-to-back singles to start the third inning. Jimmy Martinez delivered a sacrifice fly to score Boyle, and Owen Glover followed with a double to left field to move Wandler to third. Eimir Perez Jr. reached on a fielder’s choice as Wandler crossed the plate. Perez Jr. later stole second, and Spencer singled to center to drive in both Glover and Perez Jr., giving Midland a 6-3 lead.
The Tigers answered again in the bottom of the third, scoring two runs on three hits, and added four more runs in the fourth to regain the lead at 9-6. After a scoreless fifth inning, Dakota Wesleyan tacked on two insurance runs in the sixth and held the Warriors scoreless the rest of the way to secure the 11-6 victory.
Statistical Standouts
- Brody Boyle: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2B, SB
- Owen Glover: 1-for-3, 2B
- Hunter Spencer: 1-for-2, 2 RBI, R
GAME TWO: Midland 8, Dakota Wesleyan 4
Boyle was hit by a pitch to begin the game, and Jimmy Martinez followed with a single to move him to second. Glover reached on a Tigers error, allowing Boyle to score. Perez Jr. then singled to bring home Martinez and advance Glover to third while moving to second on the throw. Another error allowed Glover to score as Midland jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
Dakota Wesleyan responded in the bottom of the first with a two-run homer to cut the lead to 3-2.
Wandler drew a walk to begin the fourth inning, and Glover launched a two-run home run to right field to extend Midland’s lead to 7-2.
The Tigers added two runs in the fifth, including a solo homer, to pull within 7-4.
After a scoreless sixth, Perez Jr. drew a walk to lead off the seventh. Spencer followed with a single to right field and moved to second. Anthony Martinez later drew a walk, and Perez Jr. scored on a passed ball to push the lead to 8-4.
Harrison Acquaro entered in the final inning and closed the door on Dakota Wesleyan to secure the split.
Andres Rivera earned the win for Midland, tossing 4.0 innings while allowing seven hits, two runs and one walk.
Statistical Standouts
- Jimmy Martinez: 1-for-3, 2 R, RBI
- Owen Glover: 2-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 R, HR, 2B
- Eimir Perez Jr.: 1-for-3, RBI, R
Midland (9-15, 4-2 GPAC) will have a day off before facing Waldorf (8-16, 1-3 GPAC) in conference action Saturday. Due to field conditions, the games have been moved to Yankton, S.D. First pitch is scheduled for noon at Riverside Field.
