Warriors Earn Win on Opening Day; Take Game Two After Delay

MESA, Ariz. – Midland University kickstarted its 2024 season in Arizona on Thursday morning, beginning a six-game trip over three days in the Greater Phoenix Area. Opening day saw the Warriors take game one against SAGU-American Indian College, 9-3. The second game of the day was halted due to a rain storm moving through the area and resumed on Friday afternoon. Midland picked up the win in the second game by a score of 9-1.

GAME ONE: Midland 9, SAGU-AIC 3

The Warriors set the tone early as Yealex Lopez opened up the 1st with a single to left field. Jake Liquori was walked to put two runners aboard, setting the table for Garrett Freeman. He delivered with a single to right field, bringing home Lopez for the season's first run. The momentum continued as Connor Petersen earned a walk to load the bases. Tyler Struck drove in Liquori and Freeman with a single to left field. In the bottom of the inning, AIC managed to work the bases loaded and brought in their first run via a walk, making it 3-1 after one inning.

Inning number two began with Nathaniel Reyes reaching base to start the 2nd after being hit by pitch, followed by Lopez being walked. Liquori singled to left field, bringing home both runners. Joshua Hardamon stepped up with two outs and delivered a double to center field, extending the Warriors' lead to 5-1.

In the 3rd, Alec Villanueva earned a one-out walk. After stealing second base, he was driven in by Lopez's single to right, tacking on another run to the Midland tally.

After a quiet 4th inning, Struck opened the inning with a single. After Ben Kirkland went in to pinch run, Villanueva fired off his bat as he hit a home run over the center field wall, running the Warriors lead to 9-1.

AIC managed to break its scoreless drought in the final inning, scoring a pair of runs and looking to mount a comeback. The Warriors ended the game with back-to-back flyouts and then a strikeout.

Lucas Hamzeh earned the win, going 5.0 innings with one run allowed via six hits and four strikeouts. Tyler Dunham pitched the final two innings, giving up two runs on four hits with two strikeouts.

Statistical Standouts

• Tyler Struck: 2-3, 2 RBI
• Jake Liquori: 1-2, 2 R, 2 RBI
• Alec Villanueva: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR
• Yealex Lopez: 2-3, 2 R, RBI

GAME TWO: Midland 9, SAGU-AIC 1

Following a scoreless 1st inning, the Warriors unleashed their offense in the 2nd. Joshua Hardamon set the tone with a double to left field and then was brought in to score as a defensive error allowed Connor Petersen to reach second base. After Alec Villanueva earned a walk, Kobe Sandstrom's triple to center field brought in both runners to make it 3-0 with no outs.

With courtesy-runner Ben Kirkland entering the game, the offensive output continued as Deven Gomez singled to drive in a run, giving the Warriors a commanding 4-0 lead. Gomez made his way to third base with a single by Yealex Lopez and then scored via a groundout by Tyler Foster.

After a quiet few innings, AIC broke through offensively as it broke up the shutout.

The 5th inning opened with Lopez launching a solo homer run to right field in the top of the inning. In the bottom half, heavy rain caused the game to be delayed until Friday

Following the Warriors' previous scheduled game with Park-Gilbert, the teams resumed their game with one out in the 5th. Zach Vincent, who pitched 4.1 innings on Thursday, was replaced by Cody Kent on the mound. He was able to finish out the inning with a groundout and a flyout.

In the top of the 6th, the Midland offense picked up where it left off. After getting two runners on via a hit by pitch and a walk, Lopez reached on an infield error, scoring Villanueva.

The 7th inning saw Connor Petersen single home Hardamon. Two batters later, the bases were loaded for Gomez, who picked up a walk and an RBI.

Vincent earned the win of game two as he allowed three hits and one run, and struck out four batters.

Statistical Standouts

• Yealex Lopez: 3-5, R, 2 RBI, HR
• Joshua Hardamon: 3-4, 2 R, 3 2B
• Connor Petersen: 1-3, 2 R, RBI
• Kobe Sandstrom: 1-2, 2 RBI, 3B
• Deven Gomez: 1-3, R, 2 RBI

"Our offense did a pretty good job for it being the first ABs of the year. Yealex set the tone as a leader at the top of the lineup putting together a bunch of quality Abs, per usual," commented head coach Shea Bennett. "The pitching staff was led by two veteran arms who did exactly what we needed them to do. Hamzeh and Vincent both filled it up and kept attacking hitters while being efficient and saving the bullpen which is huge with a six-game weekend."