Courtesy of Midland Athletics
PINEVILLE, La. — Midland University traveled to Louisiana for a four-game weekend series featuring Louisiana Christian, No. 7 Loyola and LSU Alexandria. The Warriors opened the weekend with a split, falling to Louisiana Christian in game one before bouncing back in game two with a 3-2 ranked win over No. 7 Loyola, picking up their first win of the 2026 season.
GAME ONE: Louisiana Christian 11, Midland 3
Brody Boyle started the Warriors off strongly, opening the game with a bunt down the first-base line to reach base. Jimmy Martinez was then hit by a pitch to put two runners on. A throwing error by the Wildcats allowed another runner to reach and brought home Boyle to put Midland on the board, 1-0.
The Wildcats answered in the bottom of the first with two home runs to take a 2-1 lead.
Eimir Perez Jr. drew a walk to start the second and advanced to third on a single by Sotero Ureno. Perez Jr. then stole home to tie the score, 2-2.
Louisiana Christian responded with four hits and four runs in the bottom of the second to take a 6-2 lead.
The Wildcats added another run in the bottom of the third to extend the lead to 7-2.
After two quiet innings from both teams, Cooper Benecke got the Warriors going in the top of the sixth with a double to right field, and Jax Sorensen entered as a pinch runner. A flyout followed, and a double by Adam Muniz Jr. allowed Sorensen to score.
The Wildcats struck again in the bottom of the sixth with a three-run homer, adding four runs in the inning to make it 11-3.
Louisiana Christian held Midland scoreless in the seventh to secure the 11-3 win to open the weekend series.
Statistical Standouts:
Brody Boyle: 2-for-4, R
Cooper Benecke: 1-for-3, 2B
Adam Muniz Jr.: 1-for-3, RBI, 2B
GAME TWO: Midland 3, No. 7 Loyola 2
After a scoreless first inning, Cooper Benecke got the Warriors started in the bottom of the second with a walk. A sacrifice bunt by Dax Wandler advanced Benecke to second, and Adam Muniz Jr. doubled down the right-field line to bring him home, giving Midland a 1-0 lead.
Owen Glover drew a walk and stole second. Wandler then homered to right field to increase the Warriors’ lead to 3-0.
No. 7 Loyola got on the board in the top of the fourth with three consecutive singles to score a run and cut the deficit to 3-1.
Loyola added another run in the fifth, opening the inning with a single, followed by a groundout to advance the runner to second. A stolen base and a throwing error allowed the runner to score, making it a one-run game at 3-2.
Brandon Creps came on in relief of Owen Kelley in the sixth inning and closed out the game, holding Loyola scoreless over the final two innings to secure the 3-2 ranked win on the road.
Kelley earned the win for the Warriors, pitching 5.0 innings and allowing two runs with no walks and three strikeouts. Creps picked up the save, pitching 2.0 innings and allowing no runs on two hits with one strikeout.
Statistical Standouts:
Dax Wandler: 1-for-2, 2 RBI, HR, R
Adam Muniz Jr.: 1-for-3, RBI, 2B
Owen Kelley: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Brandon Creps: 2.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K
“We just keep trying to learn from each game we play, win or lose. Our seniors, Owen Kelley and Brandon Creps, stepped up and made big pitches. Dax had a huge knock, and the defense made some big-time plays. It was an all-around team effort against a really good opponent,” said head coach Shea Bennett.
Midland (1-6) will finish out the weekend series Saturday, Feb. 14, beginning with LSU Alexandria (8-5) at 11 a.m. in Alexandria, Louisiana, followed by Louisiana Christian (12-2) at 3 p.m. in Pineville, Louisiana.
