SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Coming off a doubleheader sweep the day before, No. 12-ranked Midland University looked to keep its spot atop the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) standings on Saturday as they took on Briar Cliff University at the Bishop Mueller Complex. Things started in the right direction as they shut out the Chargers in game one, winning 5-0. Behind a solid pitching outing in game two, Briar Cliff earned the split to put Midland in position to drop a spot in the standings. Thanks to a doubleheader split up the road in Orange City between Morningside and No. 9 Northwestern, the tie on the top line of the conference standings remains as we head into the final week.
GAME ONE: Midland 6, Briar Cliff 0
The Warriors’ offense started strong with an RBI double by Jayci Reimers at the beginning of the 1st. Emily Prai scored the game’s initial run after working a lead-off walk ahead of Reimers. After Roni Foote singled to the gap in right-center, Amanda Schmaderer came through with an RBI via fielder’s choice to put Midland up 2-0.
After sitting down the Chargers in their first at-bat, the Warriors added to their lead in the 2nd. With Halle Meyer on base via a hit-by-pitch with one out, Ariyana Crafton joined her on the base path with a single to left. Prai then stepped up and delivered the first RBI of the inning with a single of her own.
Reimers then hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Crafton. Foote drove in the third run with a single to center and Midland took a 5-0 lead in the middle innings.
Aliyah Rincon had a solid start in the pitching circle, retiring the first six batters. She continued to roll through the BCU lineup with just one hit allowed through the first five innings while striking out four batters.
In the bottom of the 6th, the Chargers threatened with three hits in the inning but left the bases loaded as Rincon struck out her fifth batter to end the best chance by the home team.
Midland tacked on a run in the 7th for good measures as Brie Lively, who came on as a courtesy runner, rounded the bases via a pair of singles and then a second hit by pitch worn by Meyer for the RBI.
The Chargers went down in order to end game one, 5-0, in favor of the Warriors.
Statistical Standouts
- Emily Prai: 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, BB
- Jayci Reimers: 1-for-3, R, 2 RBI
- Roni Foote: 2-for-3, RBI, BB
- Halle Meyer: 0-for-1, R, RBI, BB, 2 HBP
- Aliyah Rincon: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 5 K
GAME TWO: Briar Cliff 3, Midland 0
For the second straight week, the final game of the weekend saw the Warriors’ offense suppressed by the opposition. Briar Cliff limited Midland to just three hits and seven runners on base throughout the finale.
The Warriors’ best chance came in the top of the 4th as Roni Foote reached on an error to start the inning. Amanda Schmaderer followed with a single, and after a pair of outs, Isabelle Pagan loaded the bases with a walk. The Chargers escaped with a two-run lead they had built the inning prior with a strikeout.
In the 5th, BCU added another insurance run with a one-out single followed by a double to left with two outs. They then closed out the improbable win with just one base runner allowed, a lead-off walk in the 7th.
Statistical Standouts
- NONE
Midland (37-6, 16-2 GPAC) maintains its tie atop the conference standings as Northwestern dropped a game to Morningside on Saturday as well. Next week the regular season will come to a close with four games left for most of the conference. The Warriors begin the final leg of their quest for the GPAC regular-season title on Thursday when they travel to take on the College of Saint Mary (9-29, 2-16 GPAC). First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in Omaha on April 25.
