Courtesy of Midland Athletics
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – For the second-straight season, Midland University and Northwestern College met in Sioux Center, Iowa for the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Championship on Saturday. With field conditions unplayable, the best-of-three series was moved to nearby Open Space Park which was located next to the ASB Dome that served as last year’s battle. The No. 12-ranked Warriors got a solid performance from its staff of pitchers but were unable to get the clutch hit they needed as they fell to the No. 9-ranked Red Raiders, 3-0 and 1-0.
GAME ONE: Northwestern 3, Midland 0
The Red Raiders turned a leadoff walk in the bottom of the 2nd into the game’s first run as their ensuing batters reached via an error and a walk to load the bases. A sacrifice fly scored the runner from third but a heads-up play by Amanda Schmaderer and Matti Reiling recorded the second out of the inning as the runner at second was caught off the bag and tagged out.
Aside from the pair of walks in the second frame, Aliyah Rincon was stellar in the circle. She didn’t allow a hit until 5th when Northwestern put together a double and a single to break the game open with two runs.
Offensively, the Warriors were held to just three hits in the game. They were able to get a runner in scoring position three times. In the 3rd, Ariyana hit a two-out single and stole second before being stranded. An inning later, Schmaderer drew a walk and then was moved up a bag as Isabelle Pagan reached on an error. In the 5th, Aja Henderson hit a one-out pinch-hit double. Halle Meyer reentered to run and made it to third before the final out.
Statistical Standout
- Aliyah Rincon: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 5 K
- Aja Henderson: 1-for-1, 2B
GAME TWO: Northwestern 1, Midland 0
Needing a win to force a championship-deciding third game, Midland struggled offensively once again in game two. While they were able to put together five hits, the timing of the chances wasn’t synced up as they left eight runners on base.
After four scoreless innings, the Red Raiders broke through in the 5th. A single followed by a wild pitch put the leadoff runner on second base. Following a sacrifice bunt, a bunt single to the void in front of home plate allowed the baserunner from third to score what would become the lone run from either side.
Midland had its best chance in the top of the 5th just before the Northwestern run. As Ariyana Crafton led off with a single to left-center, Emily Prai hit a sacrifice bunt to advance her to second. Crafton raced over to third with a deep foul out down the right-field line, bringing up Roni Foote.
Wanting nothing to do with one of the Warriors’ all-time best hitters, the Raiders walked Foote. A lineout ended the threat and six outs later, Northwestern had won the game and swept the series.
Paeton Coler was solid in the circle, going six innings with one earned run and spacing out five hits.
Statistical Standout
- Paeton Coler: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 K
- Emily Prai: 2-for-3, SAC
Midland (42-10) will turn its focus to the NAIA National Tournament and the Opening Round which will take place on May 13-15. The Warriors, who will be making their sixth straight trip to the tournament, will learn their draw and location on Tuesday when the national office reveals the field of 48 teams. Midland earned the GPAC’s second bid by finishing as the runner-up in the conference tournament to the regular-season champion, Northwestern.
