Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Midland

Baseball hosted Midland on Sunday afternoon in Crete. The Tigers dropped a controversial opener, 9-7, but bounced back to take game two, 16-5. With the win in the second game, Coach Josh Oltmans picked up his 121st win in conference play, tying for most in program history.

In game one, Doane plated two runs in the first inning. Noah Winkelman drove in Joe Osborn with an RBI-groundout. Justin Nevells followed with an RBI-double to drive in Aaron Vulcano. Midland came back with five unanswered runs over the next three innings to take a 5-2 lead going into the bottom of the fourth inning.

In the Tigers' turn at the plate in the fourth inning, Brayden Jones hit a two-run home run to cut the deficit down to a run, 5-4. In the sixth inning, Narumi Okayasu tied the game with a two-out RBI-single. Doane took the lead, 6-5, on a wild pitch that allowed Isaiah Miller to score.

Midland was able to regain the lead in the seventh inning. With one out and a runner at first base, Osborn made a diving catch in left field for what appeared to be the second out but instead it was ruled a trapped ball, giving the Warriors runners at the corners. Midland would plate four runs to take a 9-6 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Tigers plated a run on a fielder's choice. However, the tying runs would be stranded on the bases as the game came to a close.

Doane finished with 10 hits in the game, two apiece from Osborn and Jones.

Kaden Crawford started for the Tigers and went 3.2 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out two. Kyler Beekman threw 2.0 innings, allowing two hits and striking out three. Ethan Merk took the loss as he pitched 0.2 inning, allowing four runs on five hits and a walk with one strikeout. Raidyn Steele threw 0.2 innings, allowing a hit and striking out one.

In game two, Jones gave the Tigers the lead in the second inning with an RBI-single to drive in Nevells. Nate Mensik led off the third inning with a solo home run. Later in the inning, Nevells cleared the bases with a three-run double and would score on a wild pitch.

Midland cut into the Tiger lead in the fourth inning with four runs crossing the plate. They added a run on a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning to pull within a run, 6-5.

In the bottom of the fifth, Doane responded with 10 runs. Dane Kelsey started the scoring in the inning with a three-run double. Dionysius Chialtas followed with an RBI-single. With one out in the inning, Okayasu hit a three-run home run. A Midland error added two more runs to the Tiger total and Max Harris closed out the scoring with a sacrifice fly to plate Nevells.

Doane had 13 hits in the second game, led by Nevells going 3-for-4 with four runs scored and three driven in. Kelsey and Chialtas were both 2-for-4 in the game.

Broc Songster started for the Tigers, going 3.1 innings allowing four runs on three hits and four walks while striking out four. Miller threw the final 3.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits and a walk while striking out four.

The Tigers will head north next weekend to take on Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday and Sunday in Mitchell, S.D.