Courtesy of Midland Athletics
| FREMONT, Neb. – (RV) Midland University hosted three other schools on Wednesday as the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Tournament got underway. The top-seeded Warriors began the day with a 2-1 win over No. 8-seed Dordt University. They then bested fourth-seeded Morningside University by a score of 3-0. The pair of wins put Midland a win away from the GPAC Championship and improves their overall record to 34-7. In the other games of the Midland Bracket, Morningside beat Jamestown (4-1) in game two of the day and then Dordt eliminated Jamestown (3-1) in the final game of the day. GAME ONE: Midland 2, Dordt 1 The Warriors took an early lead, scoring in the bottom of the 1st, in their first game of the day. Emily Prai led off the bottom of the inning then found her way to third with and steal and subsequent error by the Defenders. With one out, Roni Foote hit a deep shot to centerfield to sacrifice Prai home for the first run of the day. Dordt’s pitcher would settle in after the early run, allowing just four hits from then until the 6th. Offensively, the eight-seeded Defenders took advantage of a lead-off double in their half of the 5th. A groundout would move the runner to third and then a two-out single up the middle plated the tying run. In the Midland half of the 6th, Mia Orduna single through the left side to get things going. Diana Nisbett worked a walk and then Amanda Schmaderer reached on an error, scoring Orduna from second on the play. The run would prove to be all the Warriors needed as Hailee Fliam and the defense closed the game in the 7th. Fliam went the distance in the circle, striking out two batters while allowing five hits and the one earned run. Statistical Standouts · Emily Prai: 2-for-4, R, SB · Mia Orduna: 2-for3, R · Roni Foote: 0-for-2, RBI, SAC FLY GAME TWO: Midland 3, Morningside 0 In the second game, Midland faced fourth-seeded Morningside who had just wrapped up a 4-1 win over Jamestown. The Mustangs used a three-run 4th inning in that game to get past the pesky Jimmies who would see their season come to an end in the final game of the day, losing to Dordt (3-1). The Warriors took the lead in the 2nd as they battled their way through a two-out rally. After a groundout and flyout, Sheridan Wayne singled and then stole second to set up Ali Smith for an RBI single to centerfield. In the 4th, Kaitlyn Rickey hit an electrifying triple off the hitter’s eye in center field to start the inning. Diana Nisbett drove her in after the first out of the inning on a fielder’s choice. Rather than get the out at first, the Mustangs’ shortstop threw the ball to home looking to get the out. Rickey maneuvered her way around the tag from the catcher to tack on the second run of the game. Two innings later, Aliyah Rincon went out and got an insurance run for herself as she hit a solo home run over the centerfield fence. In the last half-inning, Rincon capped off her 19th win of the year in the circle. She pitched seven innings, striking out three batters while spreading out six hits for the complete-game shutout. Statistical Standouts · Aliyah Rincon: 1-for-3, R, RBI, HR… 7.0 IP, 3 K, 0 R · Kaitlyn Rickey: 1-for-3, R, 3B · Sheridan Wayne: 1-for-3, R, SB Midland (34-7) will be back in action on day two of the tournament with a rematch against the winner of the Dordt (21-20-1) versus Morningside (30-14) game. The Defender and Mustangs will meet at noon at Christensen Field with the Warriors set to play the victor at 2:00 p.m. in Fremont.
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