Warriors Sweep Briar Cliff on Senior Day

FREMONT NEB. – Midland University hosted a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) doubleheader against Briar Cliff University on a Saturday afternoon as they honored their 2023 seniors. The Warriors swept the Chargers with a 6-5 win in game one and a 12-3 victory in game two.

GAME ONE: Midland 6, Briar Cliff 5

The Chargers open up the 1st, taking the early 1-0 lead with an error and a double. Their lead grew in the 3rd as worked four walks, bringing a run home, and doubling the lead.

In the bottom of the inning, Yealex Lopez got the Warriors started with a single up the middle. Jacob Liquori hit his first home run of the season, sending the ball over the left-field wall to tie the game. Hadyn Crawford followed with a home run of his own, a solo shot as the Warriors went back-to-back for the first time in a long time.

Nathaniel Reyes was hit by a pitch with one gone to start the offense in the 4th. Tyler Foster was walked, advancing Reyes, and then Beau Boyle singled up the middle to bring in Midland's fourth run of the contest. Boyle used his speed to steal second and then a single by Lopez drove in both runners to boost the Warriors in front, 6-2.

The Chargers attempted a comeback with a double, followed by back-to-back homers of their own in the top of the 5th. That would be all they could get against the home team as the Warriors held on for the 6-5 win in game one.

Trey Nichols threw a complete game on the mound on Senior Day. He pitched the full seven innings, scattering 10 hits while allowing 5 runs and striking out 9 batters.

Statistical Standouts

• Jacob Liquori: 1-for-3, R, 2 RBI, HR
• Yealex Lopez: 2-for-3, R, 2 RBI
• Hadyn Crawford: 1-for-3, R, RBI, HR
• Beau Boyle: 1-for-3, R, RBI, SB

GAME TWO: Midland 12, Briar Cliff 3

Briar Cliff started strong as they opened up the game with three runs on a pair of hits in the opening inning. Things went silent for the Chargers' offense after that though as the Warriors' defense stood firm the final eight innings.

After being held in check the first two at-bats, Midland broke through in the 3rd as Alec Villanueva broke singled to start the inning. Beau Boyle struck his bat for a two-run home run to left field, his first collegiate round-tripper. Then, after Jacob Liquori doubled to left-center, Hadyn Crawford earned a walk to put two Warriors aboard.

Connor Petersen singled to bring home Liquori in to tie the game at 3-3. Jayden Gibson gave the Warriors the lead with a sacrifice groundout, allowing Crawford to make it home, as Midland scored four runs on four hits.

The momentum going in the 4th as Villanueva reached first on an error. Boyle doubled to left center to bring him in and then made his way to third off a wild pitch. Liquori was walked to put runners at corners and quickly stole second. The bases loaded up as Crawford drew his second walk of the game.

Petersen took advantage of the loaded bases as he tripled to the right center, clearing the bases and making it an 8-3 game. Jayden Gibson added another run to the tally as he singled up the middle to bring Petersen home.

After two scoreless innings, Trey Nichols doubled to left field to start Midland off in the 7th. Boyle fired up his bat one more, homering for the second time in the game. Liquori singled through the left side, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Crawford launched a ball into deep right field to drive in the 12th run of the game. For a moment it looked like the ball cleared the fence, which would've ended the contest, but it landed on the warning track and skidded under the chain link fence for a ground-rule double.

Both teams were off the bases over the final few innings. Briar Cliff was able to get a single in the 9th but the runner was left stranded.

Lucas Hamzeh earned the win on the mound as he pitched six innings. He allowed three runs on seven this while earning five strikeouts. Jonathan Foreman came on in relief and pitched the final three innings. He allowed the solo hit while striking out a season-high seven batters.

Statistical Standouts

• Beau Boyle: 3-for-4, 3 R, 5 RBI, 2B, 2 HR
• Connor Petersen: 3-for-5, R, 4 RBI, 3B
• Jayden Gibson: 1-for-3, 2 RBI
• Hadyn Crawford: 2-for-2, 2 R, RBI, 2 2B
• Alec Villanueva: 1-for-3, 2 R, BB
• Jacob Liquori: 2-for-4, 3 R, 2B, BB
• Lucas Hamzeh: 6.0 IP, 5 K, 3 ER
• Jonathan Foreman: 3.0 IP, 7 K

Midland (21-24, 12-14 GPAC) will host its final regular season game at Historic Moller Field against Doane (35-9, 21-5 GPAC) on Sunday. The conference doubleheader will begin at 1:00 p.m. on April 30.