Midland Takes Four Games from the V-Hawks

FREMONT, Neb. – The Viterbo University baseball team lost four games in a series with Midland (Neb.) this weekend, 1-4, 4-6, 6-8, and 6-12. The V-Hawks now sit at 1-22 on the year, while the Warriors improve to 14-4.

After two innings of no hits for either team to start the first game, Spencer Hans singled to center, scoring Blake Warner and putting the V-Hawks up 1-0. However, the Warriors scored on a pair of RBI doubles to go up 2-1 in the fifth, and extended the lead to 4-1 with a two RBI single in the sixth. The V-Hawks stranded two runners in both the sixth and seventh, not being able to score again.

Hans was joined by Brett Stuessel and Cody Wells as the three V-Hawks with hits, while Hadyn Crawford was 2-of-3 for Midland. Cale Beckman (L, 0-3) recorded six strikeouts, while Lucas Hamzeh (W, 2-1) had five and Darius Blasingane earned his second save.

In the second game, Kyle Sontag got the V-Hawks on the board in the top of the first with an RBI, bringing in Blake Warner. However, MU scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the frame. Five hits in the second led to three more runs for Midland, and they would score one more in the third on a wild pitch. Wells and Hans each had an RBI in the top of the fifth, scoring Nathan Faust and Stuessel, then Stuessel brought in Jomar Guzman in the sixth, but the rally ended there.

Four V-Hawks had a hit, including a hit and an RBI from both Wells and Hans. Jacob Liquori went 2-of-3 with an Rbi for Midland. Jake Ouweneel (L, 0-5) recorded the loss, while Cole Hupke (W, 2-1) earned the win, and Owen Kelly posted a save.

The third match started out with five Warrior runs in the first two innings, but Hans scored on a wild pitch to get the V-Hawks on the board in the top of the third. MU expanded their lead in the fifth was three hits and an error led to two more runs. However, the V-Hawks used a big sixth inning to bring the game within two, scoring on a Warner grand slam, followed immediately by a Hans solo home run. Despite three baserunners for VU in the top of the seventh, the V-Hawks were unable to muster another run, losing 6-8.

Hans led the V-Hawks with three hits, and Warner added four RBIs. Joshua Hardamon was 2-of-4 with two RBIs for Midland. Brandon Jaenke (L, 0-5) pitched 4.0 innings, while Jay Lambert (W, 1-2) had six strikeouts, and Darius Blasingane earned another save.

The final game started with a Chance Claman RBI double in the top of the first, but Midland responded with eight runs on two hits and a pair of errors. After Ryder Mortenson and Gavin Daneil scored Wells and Claman in the third, MU added four more runs in the fourth. Camden Smith singled in the sixth and in the top of the seventh, Marcus Hornacek and Faust scored on a Conley O'Keefe single, while Ryan Mesa reached home on a Daniel RBI grounder. However, the comeback effort ended there.

Five different V-Hawks recorded a hit, and Daniel led the way with two RBIs. Joshua Hardamon was 2-of-3 for Midland. Anthony Sanchez (L, 0-3) was one of seven pitchers for the Viterbo to take the mound, while Tyler Dunham earned his first win.

The V-Hawks return to action on Tuesday, March 12 at UW-Parkside.