Warriors Drop Extra-Inning Opener, Respond to Earn Series Split

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Midland University traveled to Orange City, Iowa, to face RV Morningside University in a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) doubleheader on Friday evening. The Mustangs walked it off in the eighth inning of game one, handing the Warriors a tough 7-6 loss. However, Midland's bats came alive in game two, powering them to a 10-5 victory.

GAME ONE: Morningside 7, Midland 6

After a quiet first inning, the Mustangs struck first, capitalizing on a hit-by-pitch and a walk. Both runners advanced on a passed ball before a groundout brought in a run, giving Morningside an early 1-0 lead at the end of the second inning.

Eimir Perez ignited Midland's offense in the third with a leadoff home run to put the Warriors on the board. Jacob Liquori followed with a walk and advanced to second on a groundout. A single by Joshua Hardamon placed runners at the corners before Hadyn Crawford launched a three-run homer, propelling Midland to a 5-1 lead.

Morningside responded in the bottom half, using a walk and back-to-back singles to cut the deficit to 5-2.

After a scoreless fourth, the Mustangs inched closer in the fifth, stringing together consecutive singles to trim Midland's lead to 5-3.

The Warriors extended their advantage in the seventh when Brody Boyle drew a leadoff walk. Hardamon followed with a single through the left side, advancing Boyle to third. A groundout then brought him home, pushing Midland ahead 6-3.

Morningside continued to battle, opening the bottom of the seventh with four consecutive singles to pull within one, 6-5. Another base hit tied the game at 6-6, sending it into extra innings.

In the eighth, the Mustangs completed the comeback with a double, an intentional walk, and a single to walk it off, handing Midland a tough 7-6 defeat.

Statistical Standouts

• Joshua Hardamon: 3-for-4, RBI, R
• Nate Reyes: 2-for-3, RBI, R, 2B
• Eimir Perez: 1-for-4, HR, RBI

GAME TWO: Midland 10, Morningside 5

Morningside carried its momentum into Game 2, opening the first inning with three hits, including a two-run homer, to take an early 4-0 lead.

Midland broke through in the third when Hardamon singled and Reyes was hit by a pitch, putting two runners on. Crawford then delivered his second three-run homer of the day, cutting the deficit to 4-3.

Perez kept the momentum going in the fourth, launching a home run to center to tie the game at 4-4. After Sotero Ureno drew a walk, Ben Kirkland entered as a courtesy runner. Boyle singled to advance Kirkland to second before he stole third. A sacrifice fly then brought him home, giving Midland a 5-4 lead.

The Warriors kept rolling in the fifth as Perez led off with a double to right-center. Liquori followed with a single through the right side, scoring Perez. A groundout advanced Liquori to second, and Boyle tripled to bring him home.

With lightning detected in the area, the game was delayed for one hour and 14 minutes.

After play resumed, Hardamon reached on a throwing error, allowing Boyle to score on the same play. Reyes then drew a walk to load the bases. Crawford was hit by a pitch, bringing in Hardamon, and Alec Villanueva followed with a bases-loaded walk to score another run, extending Midland's lead to 10-4.

Morningside ended its scoring drought in the sixth with a double and a single, but Midland maintained a comfortable 10-5 advantage. The Warriors held off the Mustangs the rest of the way to secure the hard-fought win.

Lucas Hamzeh earned the victory, pitching four innings while allowing four hits, four runs (one earned), one walk, and striking out four.

Statistical Standouts

• Brody Boyle: 3-for-5, RBI, 3B, R
• Eimir Perez: 2-for-4, RBI, R
• Jacob Liquori: 2-for-3, RBI, HR, 2B, 2R
• Joshua Hardamon: 1-for-4, RBI, 2R
• Hadyn Crawford: 1-for-4, 4 RBI, HR

Midland (9-20, 5-7 GPAC) will travel to Sioux City, Iowa, to take on Briar Cliff University (12-3, 5-5 GPAC) in another conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 5.