Kelley Tosses No-Hitter as Warriors Sweep Dordt

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Midland University traveled to Sioux Center, Iowa, to take on Dordt University in a four-game Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) series. The Warriors swept Friday's doubleheader, highlighted by Owen Kelley's complete-game shutout no-hitter in a 7–0 victory in Game 1. Midland's bats stayed hot in Game 2, powering them to a 9–5 win.

GAME ONE: Midland 7, Dordt 0

After a quiet first inning, Jacob Liquori got the Warriors going in the second with a two-out single and a stolen base. Eimir Perez drew a walk, and Dax Wandler followed with a single to bring home Liquori, putting Midland on the board with a 1–0 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Hadyn Crawford sparked the offense with a double down the right-field line. Nate Reyes laid down a bunt to score Crawford and advanced to second on a Dordt error. Liquori followed with a sacrifice bunt to move Reyes to third. Perez drew another walk to load the bases, and on a fielder's choice, Reyes crossed the plate to extend the Warriors' lead to 3–0.

The momentum continued in the fifth when Joshua Hardamon ripped a double, followed by a Chris Ortega double to left field that brought Hardamon home, making it 4–0.

In the sixth, the Warriors kept rolling. With two outs, Cooper Benecke drew a pinch-hit walk, with Ben Kirkland entering as the courtesy runner. Hardamon then crushed a three-run homer to give the Warriors a commanding 7–0 lead.

Owen Kelley dominated on the mound, tossing a complete-game no-hitter. He went the full 7.0 innings, allowing no hits, no runs, just one walk, and striking out 12.

Statistical Standouts

• Brody Boyle: 2-for-3, R
• Joshua Hardamon: 2-for-4, 3 RBI, HR, 2 R, 2B
• Chris Ortega: 1-for-3, 2B
• Hadyn Crawford: 1-for-3, 2B, R
• Nate Reyes: 1-for-3, RBI, R
• Dax Wandler: 1-for-3, 2 RBI
• Owen Kelley: 7.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 K

GAME TWO: Midland 9, Dordt 5

With two outs, Chris Ortega reached first on an error. Hadyn Crawford followed with a double, advancing Ortega to third. Nate Reyes then doubled down the left-field line, driving in both runners to give the Warriors an early 2–0 lead.

After a quiet second inning, Midland got things going again in the third. Brody Boyle led off by reaching on an error and advanced to second and then third on a wild pitch. Hardamon was hit by a pitch and moved to second on another wild pitch. Back-to-back singles from Ortega and Crawford brought home Boyle and Hardamon, extending the lead to 4–0.

The Warriors tacked on another run in the top of the fifth. Crawford drew a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Reyes followed with a single to left field to bring him home.

Wandler energized the Warriors in the sixth with a leadoff home run. Kobe Sandstrom and Boyle followed with back-to-back singles, and Kirkland came in as a courtesy runner. A groundout moved Boyle into scoring position before Ortega ripped a triple to bring him in, pushing the lead to 7–0.

Dordt broke up their hitless streak in the bottom of the sixth, recording three hits and scoring their first three runs of the game.

Midland responded in the seventh. Liquori doubled to left and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Perez singled to bring Liquori home, making it 8–3.

The Defenders chipped away at the lead in the bottom of the eighth, recording five hits and two more runs to narrow the gap to 8–5.

Liquori led off the ninth with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Wandler then singled up the middle to bring him home, adding an insurance run.

Brandon Creps came in to close out the Defenders and secured the save as the Warriors claimed a 9–5 victory.

Zachary Vincent picked up the win, throwing 6.0 innings while allowing just four hits, three runs, and two walks, along with seven strikeouts.

Statistical Standouts

• Chris Ortega: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, R, 3B
• Hadyn Crawford: 2-for-4, RBI, 2 R, 2B
• Jacob Liquori: 1-for-4, 2 R, 2B
• Nate Reyes: 2-for-5, 3 RBI, 2B
• Dax Wandler: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, HR, R

Midland (14–22, 10–8 GPAC) will wrap up its four-game series with Dordt (16–24, 5–13 GPAC) in Sioux Center tomorrow. First pitch of Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for 2 p.m. on April