Courtesy of Midland Athletics
ELKHORN, Neb. – Midland University earned the series sweep over Presentation College on Wednesday afternoon with a 10-0 run-rule victory in the final game of the series. With the three-game sweep, the Warriors extend their winning streak to five games and now hold an 8-7 mark on the season. The Saints’ struggle continues as they fall to 0-14.
Both teams were scoreless in the first three innings before the Warriors’ offense came alive thanks to miscues from the Saints’ pitching staff. A slick ball due to the light drizzle led to control issues with four walks issued in the 4th. Midland made the most of them, scoring five runs in the frame.
Connor Petersen earned the first walk and then made his way to second off a wild pitch. Hadyn Crawford moved him over to third with a sacrifice fly. Trey Nichols walked and then Trystan Mills came in as a courtesy runner. With runners on the corners, Yealex Lopez laid down a sacrifice bunt that brought in the first run and moved Mills to second. The next pitch hit Nathaniel Reyes and then Beau Boyle singled to right field, bringing Mills home and advancing Reyes to third.
Control issues continued for Presentation as Boyle moved up to second on the second wild pitch of the inning. Jayden Gibson walked to load the bases and then Garrett Freeman singled through the left side, scoring Reyes and Boyle.
After a pitching change, the new Saints’ pitcher sent a wild pitch to the backstop that allowed Gibson. Alec Villanueva worked a walk to reach first and then stole second to put two runners in scoring position. After Peterson, who led off the inning, was hit by a pitch to get aboard, the Saints were finally able to get out of the inning with a strikeout.
In the 6th, Freeman was able to lead off with a walk before Petersen reached first on an error by the Saints’ pitcher with one out. The throwing error allowed each runner an extra base, putting them both into scoring position.
A sacrifice fly from Crawford brought Freeman home and pushed Petersen to third. Petersen would make his way home during the next at-bat with a wild pitch as the Warriors boosted their lead to 7-0.
With the game firmly in control, Midland looked to end the game via the run rule in the 7th. Boyle got things started with a single and advanced all the way to third on an error with aggressive base running. He made his way home via a wild pitch to put the Warriors within two of ending the game early.
Gibson singled to left field and then gave way to Ben Kirkland who came on as a pinch runner. Freeman reached first on an error and then Foster returned to the bases as a pinch runner. With two runners on, Dax Wander saw his first appearance in the series as a pinch hitter. He worked a walk to load up the bases. A second walk of the inning, issued to Petersen, drove in a run and then Crawford ended the game with a single through the left side to end the game, 10-0.
Jonathan Foreman pitched the four scoreless innings as the starter before giving way to the bullpen. Xavior Salazar pitched the final three to earn the win as the duo combined for the three-hit shutout.
Statistical Standouts
- Haydn Crawford: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, SAC
- Garrett Freeman: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, R
- Beau Boyle: 3-for-4, RBI, 2 R
- Jonathan Foreman: 4.0 IP, 5 K, 3 H, 0 ER
- Xavior Salazar: 3.0 IP, 2 K, 0 H, 0 ER
Midland (8-7) is slated to host Valley City State (2-12) on Friday and Saturday with a 2:00 p.m. start each day. Impending the winter weather predicted to roll through the Midwest could change plans for the series between the Warriors and Vikings.
