Courtesy of Midland Athletics
FREMONT, Neb. – No. 13-ranked Midland University was back on the diamond after an extended break due to wintery weather over the past week as they hosted Hastings College for a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) doubleheader. The Warriors swept the Broncos, 7-1 and 4-3, at Schilke Fields south of Fremont to improve their conference record to 6-0.
GAME ONE: Midland 7, Hastings 1
After each team held the other in check in the opening inning of the day, Midland broke through for three runs in the 2nd. With one out and the bases loaded, Ariyana Crafton came through with a two-run single to left field. After a bunt single by Emily Prai loaded the bases once more, Reese Floro hit a sacrifice fly to score Halle Meyer who had singled with a bunt prior to the first set of runs in the inning.
Mia Orduna added to the tally in the 3rd as she doubled to the left field fence, scoring Aja Henderson from first.
Two innings later, Roni Foote led off the bottom of the 5th with a solo shot over the left field wall, much to the enjoyment of the dog who retrieved the ball while it was walking with its owner.
In the 6th, Prai sprinted out a bunt single, scoring Meyer. A sacrifice fly by Foote scored Crafton to put the Warriors on the brink of an early win. Hastings got out of the inning to push the game to its fully scheduled seven innings.
The Broncos attempted to spark what would’ve been an unlikely rally, earning a walk and double with two outs. A single to the gap in left-center scored the lead runner but a batter later the game ended with a pop-out to Crafton in left field.
Aliyah Rincon was fantastic in the circle, going 7.0 innings with 9 strikeouts while allowing just five runners to reach.
Statistical Standouts
- Emily Prai: 3-for-4, RBI
- Roni Foote: 1-for-3, R, 2 RBI
- Mia Orduna: 2-for-3, R
- Halle Meyer: 1-for-2, 2 R
- Ariyana Crafton: 3-for-3, R, 2 RBI
- Aliyah Rincon: 7.0 IP, 9 K, 1 ER
GAME TWO: Midland 4, Hastings 3
With Paeton Coler in the circle for game two, the Warriors staked an early lead with two runs in their first at-bat. Reese Floro got things going with a single and then was brought in to score as Roni Foote followed up with a double down the right-field line. After advancing to third on the throw to the plate, Foote was able to sprint the final 60 feet as Amanda Schmaderer nearly beat out a hard grounder to the shortstop.
Two innings later, Midland added a third run to its score column as Jayci Reimers laced a single up the middle that allowed Foote to sprint home from second. The throw to the plate pulled the catcher out of position and the runner was called safe due to obstruction.
After allowing the Broncos to break into the scoring column in the top of the 5th, the Warriors were primed for a big inning in their half as Floro and Foote reached via walks with one out. After foul out for the second out, Reimers delivered with another liner up the middle. Floro scored as Reimers joined Foote in scoring position on the throw. The Broncos collected themselves and got out of the inning, trailing 4-0.
Midland’s offensive pressure continued into the 6th. After the first two batters were retired, the Warriors loaded the bases with the heart of the lineup coming to the plate. A deep flyout, that may have been pushed over the fence on a less windy day, allowed Hastings to avoid the big inning once more.
As they did in the opening game of the day, the Broncos’ offense came alive in their last at-bat. Trailing by just two runs, things got interesting as the leadoff hitter reached via a single. After two outs via flyballs, Hastings’ cleanup hitter got ahold of the ball and sent it over the left-field wall for a two-run homer. After a single to left, the veteran Coler settled her nerves and punched out the final out with a swinging strikeout.
Statistical Standouts
- Reese Floro: 1-for-2, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB
- Roni Foote: 2-for-3, 2 R, RBI, BB
- Jayci Reimers: 2-for-3, 2 RBI
Midland (25-4, 4-0 GPAC) will hit the road for the first time in conference play next week when it travels to take on Doane (9-13, 2-2 GPAC). The Warriors and Tigers will meet up on Wednesday, April 3. First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m. at the Doane Ballfield Complex in Crete, Nebraska.
