Courtesy of Midland Athletics and Jeff Braun
FREMONT, Neb. – After waiting an extra week, Midland University took the diamond at Christensen Field for its home opener on Saturday as they hosted Doane University. The doubleheader also served as the Warriors’ first conference games as well. They started things off in the right direction as they swept the Tigers, 1-0 and 5-2.
GAME ONE: Midland 1, Doane 0
With two of the top pitchers in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) in the circle, it was a classic pitcher’s duel in game one on Saturday. Midland had Aliyah Rincon, the reining GPAC Pitcher of the Year, in the center circle while Doane marched out Camry Moore, a three-time all-conference selection.
Through the first two innings, Rincon allowed a pair of hits while striking out four Tigers. Moore gave up two hits as well with three punchouts.
In the 3rd, after Doane went down 1-2-3 in the top, Roni Foote doubled home Emily Praiwho worked a one-out walk. That run would loom large for the rest of the game as the Tigers tried to rally back.
Following back-to-back innings of no hits and no baserunners for either side, each team was able to get a hit in the 6th but both runners were left stranded.
In the top of the 7th, Doane saw its first hitter sat down on strikes then the next batter hit a towering fly ball to left field. The arc was a little too much as Ariyana Crafton was able to get underneath it for the second out. Rincon capped off her shutout victory with her 12th strikeout as Midland took the first game, 1-0.
Statistical Standouts
- Aliyah Rincon: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 12 K… 1-for3
- Roni Foote: 2-for-3, RBI, 2B
- Emily Prai: 1-for-2, R, BB, SB
GAME TWO: Midland 5, Doane 2
Doane struck first in the second game of the day as Paeton Coler took a little time to settle in. In the top of the 1st, after their first two batters struck out swinging and then looking, they got their first baserunner via a walk. Following an error by the Warriors’ infield, a single to left field drove in the unearned run to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Coler would walk the bases loaded before getting her third strikeout of the inning.
Midland’s bats were anxious to get the run back for their hurler but were held in check. Doane’s pitcher needed just three pitches to retire the side in the 1st and then worked around a two-out single in the 2nd.
In the 3rd, the Warriors went on a two-out rally as Emily Prai laid down a bunt that rolled six feet up the third base line and froze on the chalk. After advancing to second on a passed ball, Keira Painter drove her home with perfectly placed a hit that caught the third basemen off guard. The defender still attempted a throw to first that sailed past her teammate. That error allowed Prai to come home and Painter to advance to second.
With an empty base and Roni Foote coming to bat, the Tigers elected to throw four-straight balls to the reigning GPAC Player of the Year. That brought Carly Pfitzer, who has been having a great start to the year, to the plate. She made Doane pay in a big way as she launched the ball over the centerfield fence for a three-run home run, making it a 4-1 game after three innings.
In the 4th, Micaela Rodriguez drove in the fifth run for the home squad as she singled to left field. That brought Amanda Schmaderer, who led off the inning with a double, home to score.
Doane was able to work home a run in the 5th as the leadoff hitter singled with a bunt and stole second to get into scoring position. A two-out single that dropped just past second base brought in what would be the final run of the game.
The Tigers did threaten in the 6th as they singled and reached on a fielder’s choice and error. After a second single in the inning, Aliyah Rincon was summoned from the dugout to get the final five outs. She struck out the final to batters in the 6th and then worked around a leadoff single in the 7th, picking up two more punchouts for the save.
Coler had one of her best outings, going 5.1 innings with just one earned run on seven hits. She struck out six batters to earn her fourth win of the year.
Statistical Standouts
- Carly Pfitzer: 1-for-3, R, 3 RBI, HR
- Amanda Schmaderer: 2-for-3, R, 2B
- Micaela Rodriguez: 1-for-2, RBI
- Paeton Coler:
Midland (17-6, 2-0 GPAC) will be back in action on Sunday as they host the College of Saint Mary (3-23, 0-4 GPAC). The teams will take the dirt at Christensen Field at 2:00 p.m. for the first game of their rescheduled doubleheader.
