SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – No. 12 Midland University began its postseason journey on Tuesday with a pair of games at the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Tournament. In the first game of the day, the second-seeded Warriors earned a 7-2 win over a hot Doane University team inside the American State Bank Sports Complex. Facing Dordt University, who won their opening game, in the next round, Midland put on a dominant performance during an 8-0 win in five innings.
GAME ONE: Midland 7, Doane 2
The Warriors had a strong opening inning with Aliyah Rincon picking up a pair of strikeouts in the top half before getting two runs of support in the bottom. Emily Prai led off the inning with a single but was replaced on the bases as Roni Foote reached on a one-out fielder’s choice. With two outs, Amanda Schmaderer opened up her explosive day at the plate with a two-run home run over the left field wall.
Doane’s pitcher and defense settled in after that, working around four Midland hits through the next three innings. Rincon continued to sit the Tigers’ hitters with five strikeouts during that same time frame without allowing a hit through four innings.
In the 5th, Doane broke through with a hit but was kept from cutting into the lead. During the home half of the inning, Midland broke through once more with a pair of runs. Foote singled to left, driving in Prai, and then the bases were worked full with just one out. Showing patience at the plate, Matti Reiling earned an RBI walk to give the Warriors a 4-0 lead heading into the final innings.
The Tigers’ persistence paid off in the 6th as they turned a leadoff single into a run with a two-out double.
In the bottom half of the 6th, Midland had its best offensive inning of the game. The Warriors scored three runs as Alexis Page laid down a bunt to score Prai from third as she reached on a fielder’s choice. Later in the inning, Page was driven in along with Rylan Gardner as Isabelle Pagan delivered a two-out double down the right-field line.
For the game, Midland scored 7 runs on 10 hits while limiting Doane to a pair of runs on 6 hits. Rincon went the distance to pick up the team’s 40th win of the season. It is the fourth time in program history that the Warriors have reached the 40-win mark and the second time in as many years.
Statistical Standouts
- Emily Prai: 3-for-4, 2 R
- Roni Foote: 1-for-3, 2 R, RBI, BB
- Amanda Schmaderer: 1-for-3, R, 2 RBI, HR
- Aliyah Rincon: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 12 K
GAME TWO: Midland 8, Dordt 0 (five innings)
Facing off in the winners’ matchup of the day, Midland was on a mission to make a statement against Dordt. Aliyah Rincon set the tone early as she struck out the side in the top of the 1st. After giving up a double to start the 2nd, she sat the final two Defenders down via strikeouts. Her string of Ks reached five as she once again went three up, three down in the 3rd.
Offensively, the Warriors were providing plenty of runs to support their ace. In the 1st, Roni Foote hit a solo shot that grazed the roof of the dome on its way over the center field wall. An inning later, Ariyana Crafton worked an infield single with runners on the corners, scoring Mia Orduna who started the rally with a two-out single. Midland wasn’t done in the inning though as Emily Prai drove in a pair of runs with a single to center. Halle Meyer, who singled and stole a base, scored ahead of Crafton.
Leading off the 3rd, Amanda Schmaderer hit a high towering shot toward the gap in left-center. The ball hit the roof of the dome and came down at the base of the outfield wall. After a conference among the umpires, the ball was ruled a home run, giving her a second homer of the day. Midland led 4-0 after three innings.
Following a muted 4th inning at the plate, Schmaderer and the Warriors roared once more in the 5th. For the third time in the day, Schmaderer cleared the fence for a solo home run with one out. After getting a pair of runners on and into scoring position with two outs, Crafton closed the book on the game as she drove in Halle Meyer and Brie Lively, ending the game via the run rule, 8-0.
Rincon struck out 11 of the 18 batters she faced while allowing three hits and no runs. For the day, she struck out 23 batters in 12 innings.
Statistical Standouts
- Emily Prai: 1-for-3, 2 RBI
- Roni Foote: 1-for-3, R, RBI, HR
- Amanda Schmaderer: 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 HR
- Matti Reiling: 1-for-2, R
- Mia Orduna: 2-for-2, R, BB
- Ariyana Crafton: 2-for-3, R, 3 RBI
- Aliyah Rincon: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 11 K
Midland (41-8) advances to the championship of the Midland Bracket where it will await the winner of the Dordt (27-24) versus Jamestown (30-15) rematch. The Warriors will take the diamond at approximately 12:30 p.m. inside the ASB Dome needing one win in two chances to advance to the GPAC Championship Series this weekend. In the other bracket, which is also being played inside the dome, top-seed and No. 9-ranked Northwestern awaits the winner of the Mount Marty and Morningside game. Action gets underway on both fields at 10:00 a.m.
