Courtesy of Midland Athletics
SEWARD, Neb. – (RV) Midland University made the short trek to face rival Concordia University in a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) doubleheader on Friday afternoon. Behind a no-hitter from Aliyah Rincon and a three-hit gem from Paeton Coler, the Warriors downed the Bulldogs by scores of 7-0 and 8-1. The victories run Midland’s winning streak to 13 games while improving its record to 21-6 overall and 6-0 in the GPAC.
GAME ONE: Midland 7, Concordia 0
With the reigning GPAC Pitcher of the Year in the circle, solid contact was hard to come by for the Concordia hitters. Aliyah Rincon was nearly perfect for the second time this season, tossing a no-hitter while striking out 15 batters. The lone Bulldog to reach came in the 6th inning off an infield error.
Offensively, the Warriors took advantage of seven errors by the home team on a windy day. In the 2nd, Emily Prai popped a would-be inning-ending fly ball near the first base line. The Concordia first basement had trouble with the wind and the ball fell to the dirt. Amanda Schmaderer, Tori Baker, and Mia Orduna were all in motion at the pitch and their speed allowed them all to reach home on the error. Prai, who has plenty of speed herself, found her way to third base after the dust had settled.
Leading by three runs, Midland extended its advantage in the top of the 4th thanks to speed on the base paths and a bit of power at the plate. Prai drove in Orduna as she singled on a bunt and then found herself standing next to head coach Beth Singleton on third thanks to a throwing error by the Bulldogs.
Keira Painter drove her in with a groundout to shortstop and then Carly Pfitzer capped off the game one scoring with a two-run home run, scoring Roni Foote who had reached via a hit-by-pitch and stole second base.
Rincon’s 15-strikeout performance set a new season-high. She now has six games with double-digit strikeouts through 14 starts.
Statistical Standouts
- Aliyah Rincon: 7.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 15 K
- Emily Prai: 2-for-4, R
- Carly Pfitzer: 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI, HR
- Amanda Schmaderer: 2-for-4, R, 2B
- Mia Orduna: 1-for-4, 2 R
GAME TWO: Midland 8, Concordia 1
Concordia’s offense didn’t get any relief in game two of the doubleheader as Midland’s Paeton Coler worked a three-hit outing for the win. She did so with the help of her defense as they allowed just one run.
At the plate, the Warriors picked up right where they left off in game one. In the 1st, Roni Foote blasted a two-run home run over the right field fence, scoring Keira Painter who reached on a one-out error.
In the 3rd, Foote tacked on another to her RBI total as she drove in Painter with a double to left field, making it a 3-0 game.
Concordia mustered its first and only run of the day in the bottom of the innings as it turned a pair of walks into a score via a fielder’s choice and error.
The next half inning saw Midland get the run back as Kevin Kight hit an RBI groundout to shortstop, scoring Mia Orduna who led off the inning with a double.
In the 5th, the Warriors had their biggest output of game two. After Painter led off with a single, she stole second with one out. Carly Pfitzer drove her home with double to left. Aliyah Rincon cleared the bases with a two-run home run as the next batter, extending the lead to 7-1.
Rincon would drive in the final run of the game an inning later as she singled to shortstop, driving in Emily Prai who hit a one-out single to get aboard.
Coler earned the win in the circle, going a complete 7.0 innings. She worked around four walks, allowed three hits, and gave up one unearned run.
Statistical Standouts
- Emily Prai: 3-for-5, R
- Keira Painter: 3-for-5, 3 R
- Roni Foote: 2-for-4, R, 3 RBI, 2B, HR
- Carly Pfitzer: 1-for-1, R, RBI, 3 BB, 2B
- Aliyah Rincon: 2-for-3, R, 3 RBI, HR
- Mia Orduna: 2-for-4, R, 2B
Midland (21-6, 6-0 GPAC) will rest up for a busy week following the Easter holiday. They’ll begin an eight-game week on Tuesday when they host Dordt (23-5, 4-0 GPAC). First pitch for the conference doubleheader is set for 5:00 p.m. at Christensen Field in Fremont.
