Midland Powers Past Mount Marty in Opener, Drops Heartbreaker in Nightcap

FREMONT, Neb. — Midland University hosted Mount Marty University in a Great Plains Athletic Conference doubleheader on Wednesday night. Originally slated for Tuesday afternoon, the games were pushed back one day due to winter weather in the area. The Warriors started strong with a 10-1 victory in game one before falling in a tough late comeback by Mount Marty in game two.

GAME ONE: Midland 10, Mount Marty 1

Hunter Spencer led off with a one-out double down the left-field line before Adam Muniz Jr. hammered a two-run home run. Aidan Smith followed with a solo home run to give Midland a 3-0 lead after the second inning.

Jimmy Martinez opened the fifth inning with a double down the right-field line. Owen Glover singled and advanced on an error that allowed Jesse Chimenti to score. Glover advanced on a passed ball before Dax Wandler singled up the middle to bring him home. Spencer followed with another double down the left-field line to score Wandler.

Cooper Benecke kept the momentum rolling with a double to left field to score Spencer. Smith later doubled down the left-field line, and Anthony Martinez drew a walk to put two runners on. Brody Boyle singled to left field to score Sorensen. Jimmy Martinez added another double later in the inning to bring Anthony Martinez home as the Warriors scored seven runs on eight hits, including five doubles, in the bottom of the fifth to take a 10-0 lead.

The Lancers scored their lone run with a single and a double in the seventh inning, but Midland secured the final out to earn the 10-1 victory.

Jarror Utterback earned the win, pitching 6 1/3 innings while allowing four hits and one run with three strikeouts.

Statistical Standouts:
Brody Boyle: 2-for-4, RBI, R
Jimmy Martinez: 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 (2B)
Hunter Spencer: 2-for-4, RBI, 2 R, 2 (2B)
Aidan Smith: 3-for-4, RBI, R, 2B

GAME TWO: Mount Marty 9, Midland 8

Brody Boyle reached first on an error by the Lancer pitcher before Jimmy Martinez launched a two-run home run to get the Warriors on the board first. Owen Glover followed with a double to right-center, and Hunter Spencer singled down the left-field line to score Glover and make it 3-0 after the first inning.

Muniz Jr. led off the second inning with a double, and Smith followed with a single to put two runners on before Bouges entered as a courtesy runner. A two-out single by Jimmy Martinez brought home Bouges and Muniz Jr. to extend the lead to 5-0 after the second inning.

The Lancers got on the board in the third inning with three hits to score two runs and cut the deficit to 5-2.

Anthony Martinez led off the fourth inning with a single, and a sacrifice bunt by Boyle advanced him to second. Jimmy Martinez drew a walk, and Sorensen entered as a courtesy runner. Glover was then hit by a pitch to load the bases before a sacrifice fly by Dax Wandler scored Anthony Martinez to make it 6-2.

Muniz Jr. later singled through the left side, and Smith drew a walk as Bouges entered as a courtesy runner for Smith and Sorensen for Muniz Jr. A double by Anthony Martinez brought home Sorensen, and a sacrifice fly scored Bouges to make it 8-2.

Mount Marty cut into the lead with a three-run home run in the sixth inning to make it 8-5.

The Lancers followed with another three-run home run in the seventh inning to tie the game at 8-8. Mount Marty then took the lead with two consecutive singles, an error and a wild pitch to make it 9-8.

Chase Bouges led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to left field, but Mount Marty recorded three consecutive strikeouts to leave Midland stranded and secure the comeback victory.

Statistical Standouts:
Anthony Martinez: 2-for-5, RBI, R, 2B
Jimmy Martinez: 4 IP, 5 H, 2 R, BB, 5 K; 2-for-3, 4 RBI, R, BB
Owen Glover: 2-for-2, R, BB, 2B
Chase Bouges: 1-for-1, 2 R
Adam Muniz Jr.: 2-for-4, R, 2B

Midland (12-23, 7-9 GPAC) will have a quick turnaround as it travels to Seward, Nebraska, for a Great Plains Athletic Conference doubleheader against Concordia University (23-13, 12-4 GPAC). First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, April 10.