Warriors continue offensive fireworks

The offensive surge continued for the Midland Lutheran College baseball team on Saturday afternoon.

After scoring 31 runs on 32 hits in Friday's doubleheader sweep over Doane, MLC maintained its momentum by recording 27 runs on 27 hits in a two-game sweep of Hastings College at Moller Field.

"We just hit the heck out of the ball this weekend, and it continued today (Saturday)," Midland coach Jef Field said of his team, "We're hitting the ball in all situations; with runners in scoring position and with two outs."

The Warriors won game one 16-9 before earning an 11-1 win in game two.

In game one the Warriors took a 7-2 lead after a five-run second inning. Brandon Willis drove in the first run of the inning with a single. He then scored on a Kevin Schwamel two-out RBI single. MLC added two runs on an error by the Hastings’ right fielder before scoring the fifth run of the inning on a wild pitch.

Hastings rallied back to tie the game at seven with two runs in the third inning and a four run fifth inning that was capped off by a Jeremy Cox two-run homer.

Midland answered in the bottom half of the fifth with nine runs on six hits to put the game out of reach.

MLC pitcher JD Shoemaker earned the win, improving to 3-3 on the season. He surrendered six earned runs and seven hits in five innings. Shoemaker struck out six and walked two. Kyle Longnecker pitched the final two innings, surrendering two earned runs on two hits.

Hastings relief pitcher Brandon Hesser fell to 0-3 with the loss. He gave up three earned runs on three hits in two innings of work.

Tim Jacobi went three-for-four with five RBIs to lead Midland’s offense in game one.

In game two, the Warriors scored at least one run in every inning as they earned a five-inning victory over Hastings.

Nolan Koehn and Chris Knutson each went 3-for-3 to lead the MLC offense. Koehn had one RBI and two runs scored. Knutson tallied two RBIs to go with one run scored.

Midland starter Chris Kortus pitched a complete-game victory as he surrendered one earned run on four hits.

"We're coming up with clutch hits,” Koehn said concerning the Warrior’s offense. “I think it's coming together for us."

Down 1-0 in the first inning of game two, Trevor Womack was hit by a pitch, Jacobi followed with a double to left center field to score Womack. Koehn's single to right centerfield enabled Jacobi to score and give the Warriors a 2-1 lead. Dan Nash followed with a double to score Koehn.

"This is the first weekend all year, where I felt like we played baseball the way I want to play it," Field said, "That is where we're taking extra bases, really taking advantage of our opponent's mistakes. It becomes fun when you're able to play this way."

Knutson opened the second inning with a single and on the next pitch stole second. With two outs, Womack reached on an error and Knutson was able to score on the play.

Midland added three more runs - two in the third and one in the fourth - for a 7-1 lead going into the fifth. Matt Huggins hit a two-RBI single down the left field line to complete a four-run fifth inning and end the game.

Midland (13-18 overall, 6-4 GPAC) returns to action Tuesday in a make-up doubleheader at Dakota Wesleyan.