Courtesy of Midland Athletics
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Day two of the softball season saw No. 10 Midland University back in action inside the American State Bank Dome in Sioux Center as they took on William Penn University and Buena Vista University. In their opening game of the day, the Warriors took down the Statesmen, 3-2. The final game of the day saw them dispatch the NCAA D3 Beavers by a score of 11-1.
GAME 1: Midland 5, William Penn 2
After being held in check offensively in the 1st, the Warrior broke through with three runs in the 2nd. Roni Foote led off the inning with a double to center and then was brought in by Amanda Schmaderer who singled to left. After a sacrifice to put Schmaderer in scoring position, Aliyah Rincon worked a walk to put two on the base path. Two batters later, Ariyana Crafton doubled to left to bring in Schmaderer and Halle Meyer.
The Statesmen battle back with a pair of runs in the top of the 4th. They did so via a leadoff single and then scored on a wild pitch and an infield groundout.
Midland responded an inning later as William Pen went to their reliever after the starting pitcher gave up three straight singles. With Jayci Reimers, Reese Floro, and Roni Foote on the bases, Schmaderer reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Reimers from third. Matti Reiling came up next and drove in Foote with a double to center, making it 5-2 on the scoreboard.
WPU was set down in order in the 6th and the 7th as Midland’s defense clamped down.
Statistical Standouts
- Jayci Reimers: 2-for-3, R
- Roni Foote: 3-for-3, 2 R, 2B
- Amanda Schmaderer: 1-for2, R, 2 RBI
- Matti Reiling: 1-for-2, 2B, RBI
- Ariyana Crafton: 1-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI
- Aliyah Rincon: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 7 K
GAME 2: Midland 11, Buena Vista 1
Looking to finish the opening weekend on a high note, Midland exploded for five runs in the first two frames. In the top of the 1st, Roni Foote drove in Emily Prai with a double. Amanda Schmaderer followed her in the lineup and drove in Reese Floro with a single to left.
In the 2nd inning, Floro drove in Prai and Aja Henderson with a two-out single. After a stolen base by Floro with the bases empty, Foote drew a walk. Schmaderer picked up her second RBI of the day with a single to center. Floro came in on the hit, just ahead of the final out of the inning on the bases.
The bats went quiet in the middle innings as the Beavers limited the Warriors to just one hit up until the 6th. In that inning, Prai reached on a one-out single and moved up to third after a passed ball and wild pitch. A hard-hit grounder by Jayci Reimers was fielded by the shortstop, who recorded the out, but it was enough to drive in the runner to make it a 6-0 game.
In their final at-bat, Midland found its groove once again at the plate. Schmaderer led off with a double and then was driven in by Camille Vestal who reached on an error. Matti Reiling tripled and drove in the second run of the inning which drove the second pitcher of the day for Buena Vista from the circle.
The reliever’s appearance was short-lived as Henderson single and drove Reiling in. Isabelle Pagan followed with a single and then Claire Wisnieski reached on the second error of the inning.
With a healthy lead on the scoreboard, a pair of pinch hitters came in and added to the tally. Bella Pinoti drove in a run with a single to left and then Chloe Wagner scored another as she earned a walk.
In the bottom of 7th, Buena Vista would scratch across a run with one out to break up the shutout effort by the Warriors’ Alexis Page who went the complete game.
Statistical Standouts
- Emily Prai: 3-for-4, 3 R, SB
- Reese Floro: 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB
- Amanda Schmaderer: 3-for-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI
- Aja Henderson: 2-for-4, 2B, R, RBI
Midland (4-0) will look to continue its strong start to the season next weekend during a challenging road trip to Texas. Next Friday and Saturday, MU will compete in the SCS NAIA Invite in Mesquite, Texas against Oklahoma Panhandle State, No. 6 Science and Arts, No. 9 Oklahoma City, and Missouri Baptist.
