Midland Holds Off Broncos in GPAC Tournament Opener
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hastings | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
|
Midland | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 3 | 10 | 1 |
(Fremont, NE) – After a three-hour delay from the original start time, the #7-seed Hastings Broncos took on the #2 Midland Warriors in the first game of the double-elimination GPAC tournament in the Midland Pod. The Warriors led 2-0 early, then after Hastings tied it at two in the fifth, Midland scratched across a run in the sixth to win, 3-2.
Midland's offense came out strong, hitting a leadoff double, then coming around to score on a one-out double. They added a second run with two outs on an RBI single to center field to go up 2-0.
In the top of the third, senior Shey Storesund hit an infield single and senior Isabel Tanabe walked to put two on with nobody out. Two batters later with one out, sophomore Kaylee Pinneo blooped a single into right to score Storesund and cut the lead in half, but Midland was able to get the next two batters out to hold the 2-1 lead.
Midland appeared ready to bounce right back with a big third inning, hitting a single, followed by a double with nobody out, but junior pitcher Kiera Brack got out of the inning with a popup and two groundouts.
With one out in the fifth, Tanabe reached base on an error by Midland, just barely beating out the throw at first. Senior Lauren Schneider came up next and crushed a double to deep left field to score Tanabe and tie the game at two.
Hastings had a golden opportunity in the fifth with senior Lexie Mudloff and junior Katyn Kappler getting on second and third with no outs. After that however, they popped out to first and fouled out on a bunt attempt, then after a walk to Tanabe to load the bases, they struck out looking to end the inning, still even at 2-2.
The Warriors had their momentum carry over into the bottom half of the inning, hitting a leadoff double that came around to score on a single to center following a Bronco error, making it 3-2. Hastings had runners on first and second with one out in the seventh, but Mudloff's check swing was batted right to the first baseman at the bag, who stepped on first and threw out the runner going to second to end the game.
Up next, Hastings will play the loser of the next game between #3-seed Morningside and #6-seed Dordt at approximately 9pm in Fremont. With a win, Hastings would advance to play at noon against the loser of Midland and the winner of Morningside and Dordt. A second loss in the Midland Pod would end the Broncos' season.
