Warriors' Season Comes to Completion on Day Two of GPAC

SEWARD, Neb. – Midland University traveled to Seward, Nebraska to continue the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Postseason Tournament on Friday. The Warriors, who won on the first day, met fellow day-one winner and host Concordia University in the first game of the day. Midland fell to the No. 24-ranked Bulldogs, 9-4, setting up an elimination game later in the evening with Morningside College. In a rematch from Thursday's opener, the Mustangs avenged their loss with a 9-6 win to advance to Saturday while closing the book on Midland's 2023 season.

GAME ONE: Concordia 9, Midland 4

After a scoreless 1st inning, Concordia opened up the scoring with a solo home run in the top of the 2nd.

Midland fired up its offense in the 2nd as Connor Petersen singled to get the Warriors going. An errant pitch plunked Jacob Liquori to add him to the base path and then Jayden Gibson drew a walk to load the bases full. As Ben Kirkland came in as his courtesy runner, a wild pitch allowed Petersen to come into tie the game at 1-1. During the same at-bat, the Bulldogs had another blunder as they attempted a back-pick. The throw from the catcher sailed into left field, allowing both Kirkland and Liquori to make it home, giving Midland the 3-1 lead.

The lead was short-lived as the Bulldogs' offense, which leads the GPAC in scoring, struck for six runs in the 3rd to recapture the lead.

After two scoreless innings, Concordia added another run on the board in the 6th as a result of a Warrior error and a double.

Alec Villanueva broke the scoreless drought for the Warriors in the bottom of the inning, hitting a solo home run to right center.

Concordia cruised the win as they tacked on a solo home run in the 9th to capture the win, 9-4. Midland finished the game with five runs on four hits with a pair of errors.

Lucas Hamzeh started the game and went 3.0 innings in the loss. He allowed three earned runs while striking out a pair. Xavior Salazar pitched 6.0 innings in relief. He allowed one earned run while giving up four hits and striking out one.

Statistical Standouts

• Alec Villanueva: 1-for-4, R, RBI, HR
• Connor Petersen: 1-for-4, R

GAME TWO: Morningside 9, Midland 6

The final game of the day a Plum Creek Park was a rematch from day one as Midland faced Morningside in an elimination game. The Warriors started strong with two runs in each of the first three innings.

In the 1st, they took advantage of a pair of errors by the Mustangs. The first allowed Jacob Liquori to reach with one out. Connor Petersen joined him on the bases with a two-out single and then they both came in to score as a throwing error was committed as Alec Villanueva singled to shortstop.

In the next inning, Nathaniel Reyes hit a double to left center to start the top half. After back-to-back outs, Beau Boyle drew a walk. An extra-base hit by Yealex Lopez drove in Reyes and Boyle to put the Warriors up 4-0.

Morningside countered with a single run in the bottom of the 2nd.

Hadyn Crawford was hit by a pitch to start the 3rd for Midland. That resulted in a pitching change which seemed to be wise as the next batter struck out. Alec Villanueva put doubt into the substitution as he homered over the left field wall, bringing the Warriors' lead to 6-1.

The Mustangs stayed diligent as they chipped away at the lead. They got a big chunk in the 4th as they scored three runs to narrow the deficit to 6-4.

A solo run in the 6th and another in the 7th tied the game with just two innings to go.

Midland's bats were held in check as they were only able to get one hit in each of its final at-bats.

Meanwhile, Morningside used a pair of home runs in the 8th to vault in front and seal the 9-6 victory.

Jay Lambert earned the start for the Warriors. He went 3.2 innings with four earned runs, two strikeouts, and no decision. Owen Kelley pitched 3.1 innings of relief with two runs allowed and three punchouts. Trey Nichols was saddled with the loss in his final appearance on the mound. He pitched 1.0 innings with three hits, three runs (two earned), and one strikeout.

Statistical Standouts

• Yealex Lopez: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 2B
• Connor Petersen: 2-for-4, R
• Alec Villanueva: 2-for-4, R, 3 RBI, HR
• Jayden Gibson: 2-for-4, 2B

Midland's season comes to a close with a 22-28 record. They battled through the highs and lows of the year with constant changes in their schedule due to weather. The team came together with setbacks and injuries to earn the sixth seed in the conference with a 16-6 mark. During the offseason, they'll look to bolster the team with offseason advancements by the group of returners and a group of newcomers in recruiting.