(RV) Warriors Sweep No. 12 Northwestern in Regular Season Finale

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Throughout most of the season, (RV) Midland University and No. 12 Northwestern College were the top teams in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) and it was only fitting that the two teams met on the diamond to end the regular season. With the Red Raiders having clinched the regular season title earlier in the week, the Warriors needed a sweep to earn a tie for second in the conference and did just that with two huge road wins. They took the opening game of the doubleheader 7-2 and then withstood a late-inning rally by the Raiders to take the second game, 8-7.

The wins, combined with other results from around the GPAC put the Warriors in a three-way tie with Morningside and Dordt at 16-6. Morningside earns the tie-breaker and will serve as the second pod-host for the conference tournament while Midland will be the third seed and Dordt the fourth.

GAME ONE: Midland 7, Northwestern 2

Roni Foote got things started in a big way with a solo home run in the top of the 1st. After the Red Raiders tied it in the 2nd, Amanda Schmaderer put the Warriors back in front with an RBI single to center, scoring Emily Prai who led off the inning with a single of her own and then swiped second base with two outs.

Midland would go on to add a run in each of its next two at-bats. In the 4th, Aliyah Rincon led off the inning with a solo shot to left-center, and then Foote hit her second homer of the game in the 5th.

In the 6th, the Warriors plated a pair of runs to move their lead up to 6-1. Ariyana Crafton singled home Rincon with a single to left and then Halle Meyer came in as an error was committed by the left fielder following Crafton's hit.

During their final at-bat, not wanting to let up any against the dangerous Northwestern team, Midland was represented on the corners by Carly Pfitzer and Keira Painter with two outs in the inning. The duo was able to complete the double steal as Painter swiped second and Pfitzer raced home to put the Warriors up 7-1.

Northwestern would work one run across the plate in its final at-bat but the margin was too much to overcome as Midland took the first game 7-2.

In the circle, Rincon went the distance with 7.0 inning pitched with two earned runs, six hits, and six strikeouts to earn her 17th win of the season.

Statistical Standouts

• Roni Foote: 3-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 HR
• Amanda Schmaderer: 2-for-4, RBI
• Aliyah Rincon: 1-for-3, 2 R, RBI, HR, BB… 7.0 IP, 6 K

GAME TWO: Midland 8, Northwestern 7

Northwestern looked to earn the split in the second game as they took the early lead with a run in the bottom of the 1st. Midland countered with a run in the top of the 2nd as Aliyah Rincon scored during an attempted double steal. She had got things started with a two-out walk, stole second, and then moved to third with an error on a ball hit by Diana Nisbett.

Following the Raiders taking back their lead with a solo score in the bottom of the 2nd, the Warriors' offense erupted in the 3rd.

Mia Orduna and Ariyana Crafton led off the inning with back-to-back singles. After a sacrifice bunt put them both in scoring position, Roni Foote drove in Kevin Kight who had come on to pinch run for Orduna. Foote would steal second base ahead of a walk issued to Carly Pfitzer to load the bases. Amanda Schmaderer cleared the bases with a swing of a bat, hitting a grand slam home run over the fence in left-center.

Northwestern got a run back in the 3rd before both offenses were held in check in the 4th.

In the top of the 5th, the Warriors got things going once again. Foote hit a two-run home run, driving in Emily Prai who doubled to get the inning started. The runs were huge as Northwestern would respond with four runs in the bottom to pull within a run, 8-7.

Both offenses were held in check in the 6th and the 7th, only mustering a single hit in both innings.

Alexis Page went 4.1 innings in the circle for her fourth win of the season. She had a pair of strikeouts while allowing five earned runs on four hits and six walks. Paeton Coler came on in relief, pitching 2.2 innings for the save. She had two strikeouts while allowing three hits and no runs.

Statistical Standouts

• Roni Foote: 2-for-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB, HR, SB
• Amanda Schmaderer: 3-for-4, R, 4 RBI, 2B, HR
• Ariyana Crafton: 2-for-3, R

With the regular season wrapped up, Midland (31-12, 16-6 GPAC)) will turn the page to the next chapter of the year with the GPAC Postseason Tournament next week. The Warriors, who finished in the three-way tie for second, will be the third seed in Sioux City. Morningside (31-12, 16-6 GPAC), who is the second seed, will serve as host for the Warriors, Jamestown (24-20, 11-11 GPAC), and Hastings (17-23, 11-11 GPAC). Play gets underway on Wednesday at the Jensen Softball Complex.