FREMONT, Neb. – A senior day sweep was in order for (RV) Midland University softball on Saturday as the Warriors took two from Briar Cliff University by scores of 14-3 and 8-6. The wins extend Midlands streak to seven straight, improving the Warriors record to 26-7 overall and 14-2 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.
Midland honored five seniors this afternoon as the games are the final regular-season home contests of the 2021 season. Andrea Cespedes, Katlin Anders, Bobbi Singleton, Madison Anderson, and Sierra Athow make up this seasons well-respected senior class.
Game One: Midland 14, Briar Cliff 3 (five innings)
Briar Cliff tacked on a run in the first inning, taking a brief lead before the Warriors put up three runs in the bottom of the frame. Katlin Anders picked up a triple in the inning to score Andrea Cespedes from first and was brought home off a single from Bobbi Singleton. The third run scored when Carly Pfitzer sent a single to center field to score Singleton.
Midland widened the lead in the second behind a six-run frame, bringing things to 9-1. The inning was highlighted by a no-doubter grand slam from Pfitzer. Four more runs came in the third inning, this time off an RBI single by Anders and a line-drive, three-RBI homer from Roni Foote. The Chargers responded with a two-run bomb in the top of the fourth, but Hailee Fliam recorded a looking K to get out of trouble. The Warriors got one back in the bottom of the inning thanks to an RBI double from Anders, bringing the score to 14-3. Fliam got through the fifth inning with three straight outs to secure the run-rule victory.
Statistical Leaders:
- Carly Pfitzer: 3-of-3, 5 RBI, Grand Slam, 1 run
- Katlin Anders: 3-of-4, 3 RBI, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 runs
- Bobbi Singleton: 2-of-4, 3 RBI, 2 runs
- Roni Foote: 1-of-1 3 RBI, 1 HR, 2 runs, 1 BB
- Hailee Fliam: 5.0 IP, 3 K, 2 ER
Game Two: Midland 8, Briar Cliff 6
Briar Cliff was on the board first again as the Chargers carried a 1-0 edge into the third inning. Midlands offensive clicked as five runs scored in the third to reclaim a 5-1 lead. Roni Foote highlighted the inning with her second homer of the day, this time in grand slam fashion, to give her team a comfortable lead. The Warriors picked up another two runs in the fourth inning, one on a fielding error and the other on an RBI single from Singleton to bring things to 7-1.
The Chargers bounced back with a run in the fifth off a groundout to the pitcher. Briar Cliff managed to tack on two more in the sixth, pushing the score to 7-4. The Warriors got one back in the sixth when Anders scored from third off a single from Athow. The score stood at 8-4 heading into Briar Cliffs final at-bats. The Chargers had some life left in them as a leadoff single came around to score off a gap double. A second run scored on a fielders choice, pushing the score to 8-6. Aliyah Rincon settled in the circle, though, forcing a pair of ground outs to secure the win.
Statistical Leaders:
- Roni Foote: 1-of-3, 4 RBI, Grand Slam, 1 run, 1 BB
- Emily Prai: 3-of-4, 2 runs
- Sierra Athow: 1-of-3, 2 RBI
- Katlin Anders: 2-of-4, 2 runs, 1 2B
- Aliyah Rincon: 7.0 IP, 10 hits, 5 ER, 6 K
Up Next
Midland (26-7, 14-2 GPAC) will be on the road on Tuesday, April 27 for a pivotal doubleheader with Great Plains Athletic Conference leader, No. 11 Morningside (39-4, 17-1 GPAC). The series will be essential in the hunt for a regular-season title and tournament positioning for both teams as the regular season winds down. Game one is set for 3:00 p.m. in Sioux City, Iowa with game two to follow.
