Eagles win four in nine-game stretch

Baseball

      Midland had a busy slate of baseball games over the past two weeks, playing nine games and winning four of them.

     The Eagles (4-8, 4-10) swept a May 29 home doubleheader against Edgewood-Colesburg, winning 2-1 and 8-5. Fisher Bisinger pitched a three-hitter with 12 strikeouts in the first game, walking just two. At the plate, Midland had 12 hits; Wilson Buckwalter and Iziek Soper both went 2-for-3. Hitting doubles were Austin Smith, Alex Smith and Buckwalter.

     “Fisher came out and threw a great game for us,” Midland coach Ryan Steines said. “He really set the tone for us early.”

     In the second game, Midland broke a 2-2 tie with five runs in the fifth inning, then held off a late rally. Bisinger went 2-for-4 with a double; Britan Martens also doubled. Austin Smith pitched six innings and got the win; Buckwalter worked the seventh inning for a save.

     “We finally had an inning where we were able to score more than two runs,” Steines said. “We did not have as many baserunners as we did in game one, but we were able to get the big hit when we needed it in this game.”

     On May 31, the Eagles played host to Maquoketa Valley, and split the two games, winning 1-0 before losing 6-0. Buckwalter started the first game and pitched 6 2/3 innings of one-hit ball to get the win. He struck out five. Alex Smith recorded the final out for a save, and drove in the game’s only run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning.

     “Wilson Buckwalter pitched outstanding,” the coach said. “He was matched up with (Tyson) Tucker from Maquoketa Valley, who has been one of the best pitchers in the conference the last couple of years, and was able to win a pitcher’s duel for us.”

     Midland was held to four hits in the second game. Alex Smith was the starting pitcher and took the loss. Martens pitched the last three innings and did not allow a run.

     “We had one bad inning that put this game out of reach,” Steines said.

     Midland then played a single game at Camanche June 1 and lost 8-4. The Eagles scored twice in the top of the sixth inning to get within a run, but Camanche added three in the bottom half. Peyton Rupp went 2-for-3 at the plate. Starting pitcher Carson Rupp pitched three innings and took the loss.

     “We played a decent game,” Steines said. “We had baserunners in every inning, and had chances to score multiple runs, but we are still missing the big hit.”

     Next, the Eagles played host to Springville for a Tri-Rivers doubleheader, and split the two games, winning 10-0 in five innings and losing 4-1. Bisinger fired a one-hit shutout with seven strikeouts and one walk in the first game. His teammates backed him up with five runs in the third inning and five more in the fourth. The Eagles took advantage of seven walks and three Springville errors. Peyton Rupp drove in three runs, and Buckwalter knocked in two. Trevor Gudenkauf hit a double.

     “This was our best offensive performance of the year,” the coach said. “We were able to take some walks, then we were able to come through with some big hits. Fisher also pitched really well. He took a no-hitter into the fifth inning before giving up a hit to the leadoff hitter. We also played really good defense behind him.”

     Midland couldn’t overcome a three-run fourth inning for Springville in the second game. The Eagles had six hits, including a double by Martens. Alex Smith pitched the first five innings and took the loss.

     The Eagles traveled to third-ranked Lisbon for a June 6 twinbill, and lost by scores of 11-3 and 11-4. Midland was held to four hits in the first game, as Alex Smith and Bisinger both went 2-for-4.

     Midland jumped on Lisbon for a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning of the second game, but the Lions scored in four of six innings to gain control. Alex Smith had a double.

     “I think we played better than the scores showed in both of these games,” Steines said. “We had a lead in both games; we just made some errors at really bad times.

     “We are starting to play better baseball. We are still trying to figure things out, but I have no doubt we will be a very tough team by the end of the year.”

Softball

     Midland faced a pair of opponents in a pair of softball doubleheaders last week, going 0-4.

     The Eagles (0-8, 0-12) played host to Springville June 4, and lost by scores of 18-7 in six innings and 12-2 in five. In the first game, Ari Hacke was 2-for-2 for Midland, and Emma Dusanek went 2-for-4. Each had a double. Emma Paulsen pitched and took the loss.

     Springville scored eight runs over the first two innings in the second game. Midland had four hits; Emma Paulsen was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs batted in. Sara Flores also doubled. Mikayla Dosland was the Midland pitcher.

     “We hit the ball a lot, but just could not find the gaps,” Midland coach Dustin Klein said.

     At seventh-ranked Lisbon June 7, Midland lost 10-0 in six innings and 11-1 in five. The Eagles had two hits in the first game, singles by Allison Paulsen and Flores. Emma Paulsen pitched.

     Midland had five hits in the nightcap, singles by Taylor Bahnsen, Emma Paulsen, Delanie Uppena, Dosland and Flores. Allison Paulsen pitched and took the loss.

     “We did not give up all night,” Klein said. “We hit the ball and had runners on base, but could not bring them home.”