OMAHA, Neb. — Midland University baseball faced No. 25 Bellevue University in a rescheduled doubleheader from April 13 on Tuesday afternoon. The Warriors split with the Bruins dropping the first game 6-3 in extra-inning and then won 3-2 in game two.
Game One: Bellevue 6, Midland 3
The Warriors got off to a quick start in the first inning when Dakota Thornton and Sam Braun connected on back-to-back at-bats and later Trey Nichols popped a sac-fly to center field to bring Thornton home.
In the third inning, the Bruins evened things at 1-1 with a solo home run to left field.
The Warriors responded with a two-run 4th inning, first Conner Petersen drove in Peyton Garbers when he singled to center field. Two at-bats later, Chase Reynolds brought Kyle Weber home on a sac-fly to right field pushing the Warriors lead to 3-1.
The sides continued to go back and forth as the Bruins scored a pair of runs off of two 6th inning doubles to tie the game at 3.
The Warriors threatened in the 7th inning, Thornton singled through down the left side, Braun reached on a fielder’s choice and the Warriors had baserunners on second and third after a Matt Abdelnour flyball to right field. Unfortunately, the momentum would end there as a Nichols strikeout ended the inning.
The Warriors’ offense stalled out in extra innings with consecutive three up three down innings, and the Bruins capitalized with a walk-off three-run home run in the bottom of the 9th inning.
Statistical Leaders:
– Dakota Thornton: 3-of-5, 1 R
– Matt Abdelnour: 1-of-3, 1 BB
Game Two: Midland 3, Bellevue 2
The second game of the day proved to be much more of a pitcher’s duel as Midland held the Bruins to just five hits and only mustered six hits themselves.
The Warriors offense did all of its work in the first inning, spearheaded by Dakota Thornton who singled up the middle to get on base and then advanced to second after a failed Bruins’ pickoff attempt. Matt Abdelnour then advanced Thornton to third-base with a single to center field.
On the ensuing at-bat, Trey Nichols brought Thornton home with a single to first-base and two at-bats later Brendon Jones doubled to right-center field driving in Nichols and Abdelnour. The scoring frenzy gave the Warriors a 3-0 lead just enough breathing room.
Warriors’ Matthew Wickwire started on the mound and made quick work of the Bruins allowing just two hits and recording four strikeouts before being relieved after four innings.
The Bruins closed the gap in the fifth as they took advantage of three Midland defensive errors, scoring runs on consecutive throwing errors and cutting the Midland lead to 3-2.
Jones was the Warriors’ 7th inning closer and struck out two Bruins en route to his second save and the Midland 3-2 victory.
Statistical Leaders:
– Matt Abdelnour: 2-of-3, 1 R
– Matthew Wickwire: 4.0 IP, 4 K, 0 ER
– Brendon Jones: 1-of-3, 2 RBI; 1.0 IP, 2 K, Save
Up Next
On Friday, the Warriors (21-26, 9-15 GPAC) will prepare for a road trip to Sioux Center, Iowa to face Dordt University (13-29, 6-16 GPAC) in a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 4:00 p.m. at Open Space Park Field.
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