Softball Splits Weekend Doubleheader Against Midland
(Hastings, NE) – In a weekend doubleheader against Midland, Hastings led for most of game one, then after Midland tied it in the sixth, an RBI-single by senior Ana Medeiros put the Broncos ahead for good, winning 8-7. In game two, Midland took a 3-0 lead on a pair of home runs in the sixth and held on for the 3-1 win.
(Hastings, NE) – In a weekend doubleheader against Midland, Hastings led for most of game one, then after Midland tied it in the sixth, an RBI-single by senior Ana Medeiros put the Broncos ahead for good, winning 8-7. In game two, Midland took a 3-0 lead on a pair of home runs in the sixth and held on for the 3-1 win.
Midland scored first on a two-out single to center in the opening frame. Hastings answered in the bottom of the first with three runs of their own, as senior Lauren Lee drove in senior Katyn Kappler and senior Sam Skinner scored junior Kaylee Pinneo and Lee, making it 3-1.
In the second inning, two of the first three Broncos reached safely. Senior Lexi Mudloff's RBI-single brought in Kappler and Lee followed her up with a three-run home run, as Hastings took a 6-2 lead. The Broncos took their biggest lead of the game, going up 7-2 in the third inning on a Kappler infield single to score freshman Jenna McClain.
The Warriors scored three runs in the fourth, including a leadoff home run, trimming the lead to three at 7-4. In the sixth inning, the first four Midland batters reached base safely, scoring two runs to tie the game on the last two hits. Hastings slowed their momentum on a lineout double play and a flyout ended the inning tied at seven.
Lee led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk and went to second on an infield hit by Pinneo. Medeiros gave Hastings the lead on the fifth pitch of the at-bat, singling up the middle to score Lee. In the seventh inning, senior Kiera Brack entered the game and retired all three batters, including a strikeout to end the game and earn the save in the 8-7 win.
Pinneo was 3-4 at the plate, while Lee was 2-3 with a walk, three runs scored, and four RBIs - three coming on her home run. Kappler and Mudloff also had two hits and an RBI each. Sophomore Dani Sitts pitched 4.2 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and striking out three. Senior Bailey Schmit got the win, throwing 1.1 innings, giving up three runs on six hits.
In game two, the strong pitching limited the offense to zero runs and only three hits between the two teams through the first five innings. Kappler had the lone hit for the Broncos in that stretch, coming on Hasitngs' first pitch of the game. Brack gave up only two hits through the first five innings, striking out four during that stretch.
Hastings loaded the bases in the third inning on walks with two outs, but failed to score, striking out to end the inning. They also loaded the bases in the fourth on a hit by pitch and two walks with two outs, but Midland threw another strikeout to end the inning.
The Midland bats came alive in the sixth inning. After a one-out single, the Warriors hit a two-run home run that just managed to stay fair down the left field line. They took a 3-0 lead two batters later on another solo blast to left.
In the seventh inning, Kappler started the inning with a walk, then with one out, Mudloff hit a high fly ball to deep center that almost cleared the fence, putting runners on first and second. After a groundout moved both runners into scoring position, Pinneo was hit by a pitch. Medeiros roped a single into center, moving each runner up 60 feet to make it 3-1 with the tying run on second. A flyout by Skinner ended the game, giving Midland the 3-1 victory.
Kappler was 1-3 with three walks and a run scored, while Medeiros was 1-3 with the RBI and a walk. Brack pitched six innings in game two, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out four.
Up next, Hastings will play a doubleheader at Concordia on Monday, Apr. 6 at 2 and 4pm.
