Courtesy of Midland Athletics
HASTINGS, Neb. – Less than 24 hours removed from a highly-competitive doubleheader at home that went a combined 19 innings, (RV) Midland University continued its busy week of games with a trip to face Hastings College on Wednesday. The Warriors’ depth and physical endurance were challenged against the Broncos as they won game one 8-2 before dropping the second by a score of 7-5. Midland moves to 8-2 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) while Hastings goes to 7-5 in the conference.
GAME ONE: Midland 8, Hastings 2
After giving up a pair of runs in the bottom of the 1st, Midland responded with a big 2nd inning. They scored five runs to take control of the game. Amanda Schmaderer and Micaela Rodriguez reached on walks and then Ari Crafton joined them on the bases as she was hit by a pitch with one out.
Emily Prai came through with an RBI as she reached on an infield error. Then, following the second recorded out of the inning, Roni Foote cleared the bases with a three-RBI double to left field. She would make her way to third and then home as the Broncos committed their second error of the inning.
In the 4th, Alexis Page hit a one-out single to left and then stole second base. After Prai reached on single through the left side, putting runners on the corners, Keira Painter singled the other way to drive in Page and put Prai at third. Foote came through with the sacrifice flyout to center, scoring Prai and increasing the lead up to 7-2.
Rodriguez would drive in the final run of the game in the 7th as she singled to left, bringing in Schmaderer who got on with a one-out single and then advanced into scoring position via a wild pitch.
Page, who came on in relief in the 2nd inning, went 6.0 innings to earn her second win of the season. She allowed two hits, no runs, walked three, and struck out five.
Statistical Standouts
- Emily Prai: 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, SB
- Keira Painter: 2-for-4, RBI
- Roni Foote: 2-for-3, R, 4 RBI, 2B, SAC
- Amanda Schmaderer: 1-for-3, 2 R, BB
- Alexis Page: 6.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 5 K… 1-for-3, R, SB
GAME TWO:
Hastings started out strong once again, scoring three in the 1st and two in the 2nd. Midland countered with a single run in the top of the 2nd as Mia Orduna hit an RBI single that scored Carly Pfitzer who led off the inning with a walk.
Trailing by four runs, Midland started its comeback attempt in the top of the 4th. Roni Footeled off with a double and then scored as Aliyah Rincon ripped a one-out double to the gap in right-center. Amanda Schmaderer hit a single to put runners on the corners just before Hastings was able to get a second out.
They weren’t able to escape the inning though as the Warriors pulled off the double steal as Schmaderer swiped second and Rincon raced home. Alexis Page singled to right to score Schmaderer, drawing Midland to within a run.
Hastings finally recorded the third out and then got a run back as they hit a solo home run in the bottom of the inning. They’d tack on an additional insurance run the following inning as Midland made a few miscues on defense.
In the 6th, Page hit a one-out single and then came around to score as Chloe Wasielewskiearned a walk and then Prai drove the ball to right-center for a single. That would prove to be the final run of the inning for the Warriors as the Broncos induced a pair of groundouts.
Down two runs with three outs to work with, Pfitzer led off the 7th with a double as she lined the ball to the gap in left-center. After a strikeout and a pop-out, she stole third to try and add pressure to the Broncos’ closer who came in at the start of the inning. Unfortunately, she was stranded as Hastings struck out the final batter to earn the split.
For the game, Midland committed an uncharacteristic four errors and only allowed two earned runs with Paeton Coler (1.0), Wasielewski (3.2), and Page (1.1) in the circle.
Statistical Standouts
- Aliyah Rincon: 2-for-4, R, RBI, 2B, SB
- Carly Pfitzer: 1-for-2, R, 2B, BB, 2 SB, SAC
- Alexis Page: 2-for-3, R, RBI… 1.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H
Midland (23-8, 8-2 GPAC) will look to rebound this weekend as they travel to South Dakota for a pair of conference doubleheaders. They’ll face Dakota Wesleyan (6-23, 1-9 GPAC) on Friday in Mitchell and then meet Jamestown (14-15, 0-6 GPAC) on a neutral site in Aberdeen on Saturday.
