Versailles, Ky. – The Midway University baseball team was back in action on Friday night when they hosted Point Park (Pa.) at Chandler Field in a doubleheader to begin the River States Conference Games of the Week.
In the opener of the twinbill, the Pioneers (26-12, 18-4 RSC) scored a run in the fifth to walk away with the 1-0 victory. Then in the second game, the Eagles (22-19, 19-7 RSC) held a 4-1 lead after five, but the Pioneers scored two runs in the sixth and seventh to win 5-4.
The two teams will resume their series on Saturday afternoon with first pitch set for 12 p.m. ET at Chandler Field. Between the two games, Midway will honor their five seniors for Senior Day.
Game 1: Point Park 1, Midway 0
The first game turned out to be a pitcher's duel between Point Park's, Nola Krivijanski and Midway's, Chase Heslep (Bellingham, Wash.).
Midway's best chance to score came in the first inning when they tallied three of their six hits for the game. With one out, Matthew Olson (Louisville, Ky.) singled and Hector Quinones (Barceloneta, PR) doubled to put runners at second and third.
Krivijanski, however, was able to get out of the jam and leave the runners where they stood after he got a pair of fly outs to end the threat and keep the game scoreless after one.
Heslep, on the other hand, got off to a good start as he allowed just three base runners after four innings before running into trouble in the fifth. The junior right-hander, allowed a run in the fifth as the Pioneers took a 1-0 lead.
Trailing 1-0, Midway tried to pull off some late inning magic. Pinch-hitter DJ Lewis (San Diego, Calif.) reached on walk and after a balk moved him to second, Josh Wenning (Palmyra, Ind.) was intentionally walked. The Pioneers, however, recorded the final two outs to seal the win.
Heslep (5-2) was dealt with the loss for the Eagles. He tossed 5.2 innings and allowed one run on six hits. Tyler Jones (Huntington Beach, Calif.) pitched the final 1.1 innings allowing one hit.
Game 2: Point Park 5, Midway 4
The nightcap started to be a pitcher's duel as the two offenses combined for one run in the first four innings, but over the final three, the two would plate a total of eight runs.
Midway starter, James Davenport (Louisville, Ky.) danced out of danger in the first inning before allowing a run in the third inning as the Pioneers took a 1-0 lead.
It took the Eagles four innings, but they finally got to Point Park starter, Nicholas Beardsley in the fifth inning. DJ Lewis worked a leadoff walk, Reid Battles (Denton, Texas) singled and Josh Wenning was intentionally walked to load the bases for freshman, Matthew Olson.
Olson would deliver a sac fly that would score Lewis and tie the game. With Beardsley out of the game, the new Pioneer pitcher balked as Battles scored to give Midway the 2-1 lead.
The Eagles weren't done there. After Hector Quinones was intentionally walked, Barrett Croslin (Russellville, Ky.) ripped a double off the wall that would score both Wenning and Quinones as the Eagles took a 4-1 lead after five complete.
Midway skipper, Luther Bramblett, made a call to the bullpen and brought in closer, Jake McCoy (Mesa, Ariz.) – who hadn't allowed a run all season. The Pioneers plated a pair of runs in both the sixth and seventh innings as they took a 5-4 lead heading to the seventh.
After a pitching change, the Pioneers brought in Addison Domingo to close the door in the seventh. Domingo did just that as he struck out the side to seal the 5-4 victory.
Taking the loss for Midway was McCoy (2-1). The senior allowed four runs – one earned – in his two innings, while collecting five strikeouts. Davenport was tabbed with the no decision after allowing one run on seven hits in five innings.
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