Courtesy of Midland Athletics
FREMONT, Neb. – Playing for the second straight day at home, (RV) Midland University hosted the College of Saint Mary for a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) doubleheader on Sunday. The games, which were rescheduled from a week prior were played under the best weather day of the year in Fremont with mid-60s and sunshine. The warm temperatures translated to the offense for the Warriors as they had big-run first innings in each game as they swept the Flames, 7-5 and 10-2.
GAME ONE: Midland 7, CSM 5
After a quick 1-2-3 in the top of 1st, the Warriors’ offense flared up with three runs in the home half of the inning. Keira Painter earned a one-out walk and then came around to score as Carly Pfitzer reached on an error by the shortstop. Aliyah Rincon drove in the second unearned run with a single and then Micaela Rodriguez drove in a run as she reached on a second error by the Flames in the inning.
Leading 3-0, Midland struck for four more runs in the 2nd behind three hits and another error by the visitors. Painter drove in Ariyana Crafton, who laid down a bunt single to start the inning. Roni Foote reached on an error, allowing Emily Prai to touch home.
Pfitzer kept the streak going with an RBI groundout and then Aja Henderson came on to pitch hit, driving in Foote with a lineout to left. Through the first two innings, Midland lead 7-0 and looked to be in solid command of game one.
CSM was able to get a run on the scoreboard in the top of the 3rd as they turned a one-out single into a run with a stolen base and then an RBI blooper into right field.
The Flames’ offense really got going the following inning as they hit back-to-back home runs. The first was a two-run shot to left-center and then the second went over the left field wall, making things a lot closer than they once were.
Alexis Page came on in relief of Aliyah Rincon following the narrowing of the score to 7-3. Rincon finished the day with 3+ innings pitched, allowing four runs on four hits with four strikeouts.
Page settled in and went pitched the final four innings to secure her first win of the year. She allowed an unearned run in the 7th.
Statistical Standouts
- Emily Prai: 2-for-4, R
- Carly Pfitzer: 1-for-3, R, 2 RBI
- Alexis Page: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R
GAME TWO: Midland 10, CSM 2
The second game of the doubleheader had a similar script for the opening act as Midland surged out to a 4-0 lead after the 1st. Emily Prai led off with a double and then Keira Painterdrove her in a replaced her at second with a single and advancement on the throw. Roni Foote hit a double down the third-base line putting two runners in scoring position for Carly Pfitzer.
She came through with a bases-clearing double to the gap in left-center. Aft the first out was recorded, Amanda Schmaderer hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Pfitzer.
In the 3rd, Painter and Foote got things started with back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. Foote stole second and Painter was able to score as an errant throw by the catcher gave her the brief window. Schmaderer continued her day with a double to center, driving in Foote to make it a 6-0 game after three innings.
After giving up a run in the top of 4th, Midland answered back with a run of its own in the bottom half. Prai got on with a two-out single through the left side, stole second base, and then came in on a single by Painter to left field.
CSM was able to scratch across a run in the top of the 6th but couldn’t find the spark they had in the first game.
In the home half of the 6th, Aja Henderson came up to pinch hit and earned a pass to first as she was hit by a pitch. Mia Orduna followed with a double to left, advancing Halle Meyerwho came in to pinch run for Henderson. Then, Micaela Rodriguez earned a walk to load bases for the top of the Midland order.
With Crafton back on to run, Prai drove in Meyer and Orduna with a single up the middle. Painter capped off the game via run-rule as she reached on an error as Crafton scored from second to end the game, 10-2.
Paeton Coler earned the complete game win in the circle, going 6.0 innings with two earned runs and three strikeouts.
Statistical Standouts
- Emily Prai: 3-for-4, 2 R, 2 RB, 2B, SB
- Keira Painter: 3-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI
- Roni Foote: 2-for-2, 2 R, 2B, SB
- Carly Pfitzer: 1-for-3, R, 2 RBI
- Amanda Schmaderer: 1-for-2, 2 RBI, 2B, SAC
- Paeton Coler: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 3 K
Midland (19-6, 4-0 GPAC) will look to continue its winning streak next week. They’ll travel down to take on Concordia (12-17, 1-5 GPAC) on Friday. The meeting between rivals is set for a 1:00 p.m. start at Plum Creek Park in Seward, Nebraska.
