McPherson, Kan. – A pair of shutout performances from the Midland University softball pitching staff highlighted a 2-0 day at the McPherson Invite on Thursday. Midland started the day with a 6-0 win over Friends University and picked up an 8-0 run-rule win versus Presentation College to end the day.
Midland improves to 9-2 on the year with four of the wins being shutouts. The Warriors are outscoring the opposition 94-41 this season and have captured four run-rule wins.
Game One: Midland 6, Friends University 0
Katlin Anders got things started in the first inning after ripping a two-out triple to right field. Sierra Athow put the ball in play, leading to an error by the third baseman, bringing Anders home for the first run of the day. Friends picked up its first hit of the ballgame in the bottom of the inning, but starting pitcher Hailee Fliam forced a fly out to her right fielder to end the inning.
The next few innings went by without much action on either side as solid defense and pitching held the Midland lead at 1-0. Carly Pfitzer had enough of the waiting around, driving her fourth home run of the season over the left-field fence to bring the score to 2-0. The Warriors pulled ahead to a 5-0 lead in the sixth inning after RBI hits from Roni Foote, Athow, and Pfitzer. Fliam got out of trouble in the bottom of the inning, forcing a groundout for out number three, stranding two runners aboard. Midland tacked on another run in the seventh to claim a 6-0 win.
Statistical Leaders:
- Carly Pfitzer: 2-of-3, 2 RBI, 1 HR
- Katlin Anders: 2-of-4, 1 3B, 2 runs
- Hailee Fliam: 7 IP, 4 hits, 5 K, 0 ER
Game Two: Midland 8, Presentation College 0 (5 innings)
The Warriors turned up the pressure early as back-to-back singles and a walk loaded the bases in the first inning. Sierra Athow came through with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Emily Prai from third for a 1-0 lead. Bobbi Singleton pushed another run across after putting the ball in play. The third run of the inning scored on a single up the middle by Roni Foote. Aliyah Rincon started her pitching day with three strikeouts to close out the first inning.
Midland extended its lead to 5-0 in the top of the second after a triple from Andrea Cespedes brought a pair home. The lead moved to 7-0 early in the third inning when Carly Pfitzer hit her second homer of the day, this time a two-run shot, over the center-field wall. Another run would score in the inning, bringing the score to 8-0 and putting Presentation in danger of being run-ruled. Rincon continued to work her magic in the circle and keeping the opposition off the scoreboard, giving Midland the 8-0 win.
Statistical Leaders:
- Carly Pfitzer: 2-of-3, 2 RBI, 1 HR
- Roni Foote: 2-of-3, 1 RBI, 1 run
- Andrea Cespedes: 2-of-3, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 1 run
- Emily Prai: 3-of-4, 1 RBI, 2 runs
- Aliyah Rincon: 5.0 IP, 1 hit, 10 K, 0 BB, 0 ER
Up Next
Midland (9-2) will have a quick turnaround with a pair of games tomorrow afternoon in York, Nebraska. The Warriors will take on Cottey College at 2:00 p.m. and (RV) Dickinson State University at 4:00 p.m. to wrap up the road trip.
