Warriors split GPAC doubleheaders

SEWARD n The Midland Lutheran College baseball team split a pair of doubleheaders with Concordia and Dana College over the weekend.

The Warriors finished regular season play in fifth place heading into Thursday’s Great Plains Athletic Conference tournament in Hastings.

It was the third series split in the last week for the Warriors (13-9) with a GPAC team that failed to qualify for the conference tournament. Concordia is 10-14 while Dana is 6-16.

“I’m disappointed,” Midland coach Jef Field said. “We’ve split with teams that are in last place of this league... Certainly they outplayed us in those games, but down the stretch you’ve got to finds ways to beat teams in the bottom of the pack. We’ve let some teams beat us that probably shouldn’t.”

MLC will open tournament play at noon Thursday against Dakota Wesleyan (14-8).

Concordia scored nine runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to win game one 11-6 Sunday. In game two, the Warriors scored multiple runs in all but two innings as they defeated the Bulldogs 15-8.

On Saturday, Midland won the first game against Dana 10-7 in its final home doubleheader at Moller Field. The Vikings rallied back for an 8-7 win in game two.

In game one, Midland scored eight runs in the second inning of to take a commanding lead. MLC tallied six hits in the inning and scored six of the eight runs with two outs. The inning was highlighted by Nolan Koehn’s three-run homer.

Dana rallied with two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to narrow the gap to 10-7. Midland reliever Kyle Longnecker and closer TJ Stosich held Dana scoreless over the final two innings to preserve the win.

MLC starter Mike Burdine improved to 6-3 as he surrendered seven runs - six earned - in five innings of work. Burdine struck out three and walked one.

Dana starting pitcher Ryan Eiswerth fell to 4-4 as he surrendered 10 runs - nine earned - in three innings of work. Eiswerth struck out three, walked four and hit two batters.

Brandon Willis went 3-for-3 with two RBI’s to lead the Warriors offense in game one.

Dana overcame a 3-2 deficit with a six-run fifth inning in game two to earn the series split.

The Vikings let MLC back into the game as the Warriors pulled to within a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Midland tallied just one hit during its four-run rally as Dana made two errors, hit two batters and walked another with the bases loaded.

Midland senior shortstop Chris Knutson homered twice in his final game at Moller Field, leading the Warriors offense.

Dana reliever James Wrigley picked up the win. He surrendered one run in two innings of work. MLC starter Chris Kortus took the loss as he gave up six earned runs on nine hits with four walks and no strikeouts.