Warriors Earn Split on Second Day in Arizona

MESA, Ariz. – Midland University continued action in Arizona on Friday as it took on Park University-Gilbert and SAGU-American Indian College. The Warriors faced a setback in the opening game of the day as their bats were kept silent, resulting in their first loss of the season to the Buccaneers, 3-0. In the second game, the Warriors bounced back with a win over SAGU-AIC, 7-2, overcoming challenges along the way.

GAME ONE: Park-Gilbert 3, Midland 0

The Buccaneers surged ahead in the opening inning, securing an early lead with a homer. Following a stretch of quiet innings, Park-Gilbert added another run in the bottom of the 5th and then bolstered its lead in the 6th with a second homer.

Midland was unable to break through on the scoreboard, being held in check by the Buccaneers' pitching that allowed just three hits on the day. The Warriors got a solid outing from Jay Lambert as he went 4.1 innings with just two hits allowed and four strikeouts.

Statistical Standouts

• Jay Lambert: 4.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 4 K
• Joshua Hardamon: 1-2
• Connor Petersen: 1-2
• Deven Gomez: 1-3

GAME TWO: Midland 7, SAGU-ACI 2

After a pair of scoreless innings, Kobe Sandstrom ignited the Warriors' offense in the 3rd inning with a leadoff double to center field. As Ben Kirkland entered the game as a courtesy runner, Nathaniel Reyes worked a walk to put two runners on base. Kirkland and Reyes moved to scoring position on a passed ball. A sacrifice fly by Yealex Lopez brought in the game's first run.

The 4th inning saw Joshua Hardamon making an impact with a home run to left field, expanding the Warriors' advantage to 2-0. Following a quiet 5th inning, Hadyn Crawford jump-started the 6th with a single to right field. Alec Villanueva came on as a pinch runner and was advanced into scoring position with Chris Ortega's single to left field. Trystan Mills came on as a pinch runner for Ortega, setting the table for Connor Petersen who delivered an RBI double to center. Dax Wandler then came through with a hard-hit single, bringing home Petersen and Mills.

The hot bats continued as Sandstrom singled. Lopez's double to right field brought home Wandler and Kirkland, who had entered to run for the catcher's spot once more, extending the Midland lead to 7-0.

SAGU-ACI managed to break through with a pair of runs in the bottom of the 6th inning. Following a quick 7th inning, the Warriors secured the 7-2 victory and improved to 3-1 on the season.

Owen Kelley earned the win as he pitched 5.0 innings with five strikeouts and three hits allowed. Xavier Salazar came in as the relief for the final 2.0 innings, giving up three hits, two runs, and one strikeout.

Statistical Standouts

• Yealex Lopez: 1-3, 3 RBI
• Dax Wandler: 1-3, R, 2 RBI
• Connor Petersen: 2-4, R, RBI
• Joshua Hardamon: 1-4, R, RBI
• Owen Kelley: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 5 K

"The team responded by doing exactly what they were prepared to do. They stuck to their approach and trusted the process," said head coach Shea Bennett after the second day of games. "We kept putting pressure on the defense until things finally broke loose."

"Kelley had a great start to the year and had guys off balance the entire time," added Coach Bennett. "The team fed off of his performance."

Midland (3-1) will wrap up their trip in Arizona as they face Park-Gilbert (4-4) in a doubleheader on Saturday, February 10. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at Legacy Field in Mesa.