Courtesy of Midland Athletics
FREMONT, Neb. — Midland University hosted Grand View University for a doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Moller Field for its home opener. The Warriors were originally scheduled to play in St. Louis, but those games were canceled due to weather. Midland instead scheduled a four-game home series against the Vikings at home. Grand View edged Midland in game one, while the Warriors bounced back with a win in game two to split the day.
GAME ONE: Grand View 3, Midland 2
The Vikings opened the first inning with a home run to left field to take a 1-0 lead.
Eimir Perez Jr. responded with a home run in the second inning to tie the game at 1-1.
Hunter Spencer gave the Warriors the lead in the third inning with a solo home run to make it 2-1.
After a quiet inning from both teams, a double followed by a groundout and wild pitch allowed Grand View to score and tie the game at 2-2 in the fourth inning.
A single, stolen base and groundout advanced a Viking runner to third base, and an error brought him home to give Grand View a 3-2 lead in the sixth.
The Vikings held Midland scoreless the rest of the way to secure the 3-2 win in game one.
Statistical Standouts
Hunter Spencer: 1-for-3, RBI, HR
Eimir Perez: 1-for-2, RBI, HR
Owen Kelley: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 7 K
GAME TWO: Midland 7, Grand View 4
Grand View opened the game with three hits in the first inning, driving in three runs to take an early 3-0 lead.
Jimmy Martinez sparked the Warriors with a two-out single to reach base, followed by a single from Eimir Perez Jr. Dax Wandler singled and advanced to third on an error by the Vikings, allowing both Martinez and Perez Jr. to score. Owen Glover added an RBI single up the middle to score Wandler as Midland tied the game 3-3 at the end of the first inning.
Perez Jr. led off the third inning with a single to right-center and stole second. Wandler followed with a single to advance Perez Jr. to third, putting runners on the corners. Glover then delivered another single to drive in Perez Jr., giving Midland a 4-3 lead.
The Warriors added to their lead in the fourth inning as Jax Sorensen and Brody Boyleopened the frame with singles. Anthony Martinez hit a sacrifice fly to score Sorensen. Boyle later stole second before Perez Jr. hit a two-run home run to extend the lead to 7-3.
Grand View added another run in the fifth inning with a walk and back-to-back singles to make it 7-4.
Andres Rivera shut down the Vikings the rest of the way, earning the win with 6.0 innings pitched while allowing just two hits and one run, with one walk and four strikeouts.
Statistical Standouts
Jimmy Martinez: 1-for-2, R
Eimir Perez Jr.: 3-for-3, 2 RBI, HR, R, SB
Dax Wandler: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, R
Owen Glover: 2-for-3, 2 RBI
Jax Sorensen: 1-for-2, R
Andres Rivera: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K
“Credit to their pitcher in game one. In game two our guys did a great job bouncing back and splitting the day. Andres and Adam really stepped up for us and competed. Eimir also led the offense with a big day. We need to continue the momentum tomorrow,” said head coach Shea Bennett.
Midland (4-12) will finish the four-game series against Grand View (6-4) with another doubleheader Monday, March 9. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., with game two to follow.
