Courtesy of Midland Athletics
OMAHA, Neb. – Midland University showcased plenty of offense in their doubleheader sweep of Presentation on Sunday. The Warriors outscored the Saints 24 to 11 in the two games played at the Elkhorn Legion Field in Omaha. Senior Dakota Thornton was a key bat in the lineup, going 5-for-7 with three home runs on the day. He nearly hit for the cycle in game two, missing the elusive triple.
GAME ONE: Midland 13, Presentation 7
A big 3rd inning propelled the Warriors past the Saints in the first game of their Sunday doubleheader. Playing at the Elkhorn Legion Field, Midland scored seven runs in the key inning to break a 2-2 tie en route to a 13-7 win.
Trey Nichols, Connor Petersen, and Tyler Struck all had multi-hit games on the day while Chase Reynolds made the most of his one hit, driving in three runs with one swing the bat. Nichols and Struck also had three RBIs on the day, on a pleasant February afternoon.
In the 3rd, the Warriors saw seven of their first eight batters reach base. After a leadoff ground out, Reynolds reached on an infield error. Dakota Thornton then doubled to left field to drive in the first run, breaking the tie. Nichols followed suit with an RBI double of his own. Petersen was awarded first after getting hit by the pitch and then Alec Villanueva reached on the second Saints’ error of the inning, scoring Nichols.
Kyle Weber was struck by a pitch to load the bases before Struck cleared them with a three-RBI triple. The inning continued with Beau Boyle reaching on an error, avoiding the dreaded two-out inning, and driving in Struck for the final run of the inning.
Tyler Seebaum pitched a complete 7.0 inning game for the win. He scattered six hits, allowed five earned runs, and struck out seven batters.
Statistical Standouts
- Chase Reynolds: 1-for-5, 3 R, 3 RBI, HR, SB
- Trey Nichols: 2-for-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B, HR
- Tyler Struck: 2-for-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, 3B
- Tyler Seebaum: 7.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 K
GAME TWO: Midland 11, Presentation 4
In the final game of the weekend, both teams went with the pitching by committee approach. Midland rolled out Jacob Perez who went 4.0 innings giving way to Dylan Hastings, 1.0 inning, and Keegan Adams, 2.0 innings. The Saints had four different hurlers, with no pitcher going more than 2.1 innings.
The Warriors roughed up their starter, scoring six runs in the first two innings.
In the 1st, Midland saw their first two batters reach on errors. First, it was Tyler Foster getting all the way to third on an error by the centerfielder. Then, Chase Reynolds forced an error by their shortstop with a hard-hit ball that brought Foster in. Dakota Thornton followed with a two-run home run to make it 3-0.
The 2nd inning, saw Thornton flex his power once more. After Foster walked and Reynolds doubled, Thornton hit his second homer in as many innings to make it a 6-0 game.
Thornton would get two more hits in the game, a double in the 4th and a single in the 5th. He wouldn’t get a chance to complete the cycle as the game came to a close in the top of the 7th with him due to hit second in the bottom.
Perez picked up the win, going four complete innings. He allowed four earned runs on five hits and four walks. He struck out three batters as well.
Statistical Standouts
- Chase Reynolds: 3-for-4, 4 R, 1 RBI, 2B
- Dakota Thornton: 4-for-4, 3 R, 8 RBI, 2B, 2 HR
- Bakari Gayle: 2-for-3, RBI, 2B
- Tyler Foster: 3-for-3, 2 BB
- Jacob Perez: 4.0 IP, 3 K
- Keegan Adams: 2.0 IP, 2 K
Midland (7-1) will have a brief break in their schedule before hosting Trinity Christian (0-2) for four-game series on Monday, March 7, and Tuesday, March 8. The Trolls will play six games in that stretch with doubleheaders slated for March 2, 4, and 5 at their home ballpark.
