Courtesy of Midland Athletics
FREMONT, Neb. – After a delay of nearly 90 minutes due to travel issues for the visitors, Midland University hosted Morningside University for a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. The Mustangs took both single-run games, winning 1-0 and 4-3. The losses drop the Warriors to 18-5 overall and 5-3 in the GPAC.
GAME ONE: Morningside 1, Midland 0
The offense was at a premium in the first game of the day which began at 2:35 p.m. The Warriors had a few chances early, but couldn’t get the timely hit with runners aboard. They stranded two on base in the 1st in what would prove to be their best scoring chance in the game.
They got a single in the 2nd and 4th but couldn’t get anyone in scoring position until Trey Nichols hit a two-out double in the 6th inning. He was left stranded though as the Mustangs’ ace got out of the inning with the score still 0-0.
In the top of the 7th, Morningside got their third hit of the afternoon and it was all they would need. Jacob O’Dell led off the inning with a solo home run over the left-field wall to break the scoreless tie.
Statistical Standouts
- Jay Lambert: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 8 K
- Trey Nichols: 1-for-3, 2B
GAME TWO: Morningside 4, Midland 3
After being bottled up in the first game, the offenses were primed at the start of the second. Morningside opened with two runs in the top of the 1st before Midland responded with three of their own in the bottom.
Facing the Mustangs’ lefty, Beau Boyle led off the inning with a single to right. He was joined on the bases by Chase Reynolds who reached on the first error of the inning. Bakari Gayle drove in Boyle in the next at-bat with a single through the right side.
Trey Nichols drove in the next run (Reynolds) when he reached on a bunt single. He raced down the baseline and beat out the first baseman who was scrambling back to the bag. A miss-throw by the pitcher allowed Gayle to move to third and Nichols to move on to second base.
The Mustangs gifted the third run of the inning after they hit Dakota Thornton to load the bases and then sent one of the next set of pitches to the backstop, allowing Gayle to come in on the wild pitch. They finally got out of the inning, allowing three runs on three hits, with a pair of errors.
That’s where things stood until the top of the 4th. In Morningside’s half of the inning, they hit their second home run of the day, a two-run shot to left field with two outs.
With the narrow lead in the seven-inning game, due to the late start, the Mustangs turned the ball over to their reliever after a pair of walks to begin the bottom of the 4th. He got out of the jam he was called into and worked his way to the win, going 4.0 innings while allowing just two hits.
Midland tried their best to manufacture the tying run but could only get one runner on base the rest of the way.
Lucas Hamzeh pitched a stellar game for the Warriors, going the distance. He struck out seven batters while allowing eight hits and four runs.
Statistical Standouts
- Lucas Hamzeh: 7.0 IP, 8 H, 7 K, 4 ER
- Trey Nichols: 1-for-4, RBI
- Beau Boyle: 1-for-3, R, BB
Midland (18-5, 5-3 GPAC) will have a little time to put in work in the cages and in batting practice this week before they take on (RV) Concordia (18-7-1, 7-1 GPAC). The Warriors will host the Bulldogs in a conference doubleheader on Saturday and then travel to Seward for a Sunday doubleheader. First pitch of the first games each day is set for 1:00 p.m.
