Courtesy of Midland Athletics
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Taking the field for the second day of the Saint Four Seasons Classic, Midland University’s offense came alive as they combined for 17 runs and earned a pair of wins. A five-run 3rd inning helped them break open their 11-4 win over Texas A&M University-San Antonio in the morning. In the second game of the day, the Warriors avenged their opening-day loss to Our Lady of the Lake University. It was a tight game through six innings before a three-run home run gave Midland breathing room for the 6-2 victory.
GAME 1: Midland 11, TAMU-San Antonio 4
After giving up a run in the 1st following a handful of miscues, Midland evened the score with a solo home run by Aliyah Rincon in the bottom half.
In the 2nd, the Jaguars once again took advantage of mistakes made by the Warriors. A walk followed by an error put a runner on third with no outs. After getting an out on the bases via a steal attempt, a passed ball allowed the second run for TAMU-SA to come in.
Just like they did in the opening inning, Midland responded with a run in their half. Carly Pfitzer led off with a single and then made her way to second with a steal. An error by the Jaguars on a hard-hit ball from Amanda Schmaderer allowed Pfitzer to come in and tie the game at 2-2.
The Warriors’ defense settled into the game in the 3rd as they started a run of three scoreless innings for TAMU-SA. In the bottom of the inning, their bats came alive with three straight singles to start the inning followed by a three-run homer from Micaela Rodriguez (her second of the season).
After a pitching change, Midland was able to push across a fifth run of the inning as she drove in Pfitzer who had made her way on via a walk.
In the 4th, Pfitzer made her way around the bases once more. After reaching on an error by the Jaguars’ infield, she stole second and third and then raced home on a second error by the infield. Midway through the game, the Warriors led 8-2.
Midland’s offense was held in check during the 5th but came its bats came alive again in the 6th. After giving up two runs to the Jaguars, the Warriors struck for three runs in the 6th.
Roni Foote crusher her second home run of the season, going opposite field on a solo shot. Then Pfitzer went yard with a two-run shot over the center field wall with Ariana Crafton on base.
The Midland defense held fast in the 7th as they sealed the 11-4 win.
Chloe Wasielewski earned the start and went 5.2 innings, allowing four runs and striking out five batters for the win. Paeton Coler went the final 1.1 innings with a strikeout.
Statistical Standouts
- Aliyah Rincon: 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, HR
- Roni Foote: 4-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR
- Micaela Rodriguez: 1-for-3, R, 3 RBI, HR
- Carly Pfitzer: 2-for-3, 4 R, 2 RBI, HR
- Chloe Wasielewski: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 5 K
GAME 2: Midland 6, OLLU 2
Carly Pfitzer continued her hot start to the season in the second game of the day as she opened up the scoring with a two-run home run in the 2nd inning. She drove in Kelly Kight, who had come on to run for Micaela Rodriguez after she singled to start the inning.
Two innings later, the Saints cut the lead in half as they hit a solo homer with two outs in the 4th. They threatened to add to their run total in the 5th. Aliyah Rincon and the Warriors’ defense got out of the inning unharmed despite loading the bases with two outs.
Midland’s offense got going again in the 6th. They added a run via a Pfitzer RBI single that scored Roni Foote.
In the final inning, the Warriors’ bats came alive as they found the timing and rhythm of the Saints’ pitcher. Emily Prai got it going with a one-out since up the middle, then Rincon reached on an error. Foote broke the game wide-open with a three-run homer that ended the day for the Saints’ starter.
Their reliever was shaky at the start of her appearance, walking Rodriguez and then hitting Pfitzer. A pair of wild pitches mixed in with a second walk loaded the bases. OLLU ended the inning without yielding any more runs but faced a five-run deficit with only three outs left.
Rincon struck out the lead-off batter but gave up a solo homer to the Saints’ pinch hitter. OLLU followed up with a double to center field but Rincon took a deep breath, settled her nerves, and got the final two outs for the Warriors’ first win over OLLU since 2013.
Statistical Standouts
- Roni Foote: 1-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR
- Carly Pfitzer: 2-for-2, R, 3 RBI, HR
- Aliyah Rincon: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 5 K
Midland (3-1) will wrap up their trip to Texas on Sunday with two more games in the Saints Four Seasons Classic. They’ll take on Bethany (1-3) at 10:00 a.m. and then face OLLU (4-2) in the rubber match at 12:15 p.m.
