Longball Lifts No. 24 Concordia Past Warriors

FREMONT, Neb. - Midland University opened up a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) weekend series with two tough losses to Concordia University on Saturday at home. The Bulldogs, one of the nation's best power-hitting teams, showcased the longball with a combined 12 home runs on the day to clinch the first two games, 17-8 and 17-0.

GAME ONE: Concordia 17, Midland 8

The Bulldogs started strong as they opened up the 1st inning with back-to-back homers to right field. A single and a few errors by Midland drew in two more runs to give Concordia the early 4-0 lead.

A single by Jacob Liquori set the Warriors up for success in the bottom half of the inning. Hadyn Crawford hit a two-run homer to left-center to cut the lead in half. Errors by the Bulldogs and a single by Jayden Gibson brought in two more runs to tie the game at 4-4.

Concordia continued to strike their bats as they brought in three runs off four hits, including a two-run homer, to propel them in front 7-4 after the top of the 2nd.

Yealex Lopez and the Warriors battled in the bottom as he started the rally with a single. A double by Liquori brought in the first run of the inning. After a pitch plunked Crawford, Connor Petersen singled to bring Liquori home. Another pitch plunked Alec Villanueva to keep the Warriors alive and a single by Beau Boyle brought home Crawford to tie the game up at 7-7.

Concordia's bats continued to crack as they struck for a two-run home run and a solo home run to put them back on top 10-7 in the 3rd.

Dax Wandler drew a walk to start things off in the bottom of the 3rd. The next pitch hit Nathaniel Reyes to follow and then Liquori singled to center to bring Wandler home. This would go on to be the final run for the Warriors, as the relief pitcher for the Bulldogs settled in and controlled the rest of the game.

After a battle of the bats through the first three innings, Concordia's offense kept going as it created a gap between the Warriors, scoring seven runs off five hits in the 4th to close the book on their spectacular start to the day at the plate and the 17-8 victory.

Statistical Standouts

• Hadyn Crawford: 2-for-3, R, 2 RBI, HR
• Jacob Liquori: 3-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B
• Connor Petersen: 1-for-4, R, RBI
• Yealex Lopez: 2-for-4, R

GAME TWO: Concordia 17, Midland 0

As Concordia was able to keep their offense going at a similar rate in the first game, Midland struggled in the second at the plate and in the field. The Warriors were unable to produce any runs and had just six hits in the contest.

Concordia matched the six home runs and the 17 runs from the first game offensively. Defensively, they got a gem from their starter who went the distance for the complete-game shutout

Midland (19-22, 10-12 GPAC) will look to split the series with Concordia (31-13, 17-5 GPAC) as the teams meet up for a doubleheader on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Plum Creek Park in Seward, Nebraska.