No. 15 Warriors Split Final Games of Weekend

SHAWNEE, Okla. – After suffering their first losses of the season, No. 15 Midland University took the field for their final two games at the NAIA Softball Tournament in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The Warriors faced (RV) Grand View University and No. 18 Benedictine College at FireLake Fields, falling 4-2 to the Vikings before bouncing back with an 8-4 win over the Ravens.

GAME ONE: Grand View 4, Midland 2

Grand View kept Midland's hitters in check early while building an early lead. The Vikings plated one run in the first inning and added three more in the second.

In the bottom of the first, Grand View's leadoff hitter reached on a hit-by-pitch, stole second, and then scored on an RBI single to center field. The second inning saw the Vikings load the bases with a single and a pair of walks before a triple to the gap in left cleared them, making it 4-0.

Midland fought back in the fourth. With two outs, Isabelle Pagan doubled to center. Matti Reiling followed with an RBI single to left, but the inning ended when she was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.

The Warriors threatened again in the seventh. Pagan led off with a single and stole second with one out. Aja Henderson delivered a two-out, pinch-hit RBI double to right, but Midland was unable to complete the rally, falling 4-2.

Paeton Coler pitched a complete game, striking out six over six innings. She allowed four earned runs on three hits and four walks.

Statistical Standouts

• Isabelle Pagan: 3-for-3, 2 R
• Matti Reiling: 1-for-3, RBI
• Aja Henderson: 1-for-1, RBI

GAME TWO: Midland 8, Benedictine 4

Looking to avoid a winless weekend, the Warriors used a big third inning to get past Benedictine.

After stranding three runners in the first two innings, Midland's offense broke through in the third. Reese Floro led off with a double to left and scored when Alexis Shepherd singled in the next at-bat. Jayci Reimers then walked, and Isabelle Pagan reached on a fielder's choice to put two on base.

Kamdyn Barrientos followed with an RBI single to right, and Reiling's infield single loaded the bases. Henderson then delivered a two-run double to right, and Claire Wisnieski capped the rally with a two-run single, scoring both Reiling and Henderson to give Midland a 6-0 lead.

Benedictine got a run back in the third and added another in the fourth. In the sixth, Henderson led off with a double, and pinch-runner Sophie De Rouin advanced to third on a groundout before scoring on an RBI groundout by Ariyana Crafton.

Midland tacked on another run in the seventh. Pagan singled up the middle, Barrientos reached on a bunt, and Reiling drove in a run with a single to right.

The Ravens attempted a late rally, recording three consecutive hits to start their half of the seventh and pushing across two runs. However, Campbell Petrick closed the door, inducing a groundout before striking out the final batter to secure the win.

Petrick threw a complete game, allowing three earned runs on eight hits with six strikeouts to earn her third victory of the season.

Statistical Standouts

• Campbell Petrick: 7.0 IP, 6 K
• Reese Floro: 3-for-4, R
• Alexis Shepherd: 2-for-4, RBI
• Isabelle Pagan: 1-for-4, 2 R
• Kamdyn Barrientos: 2-for-4, R, RBI
• Matti Reiling: 3-for-4, R, RBI
• Aja Henderson: 3-for-3, R, 2 RBI

Midland (7-3) will have a short turnaround as it travels to Kansas for six games next weekend. The Warriors will stop in Shawnee, Kansas, to face Graceland and MidAmerica Nazarene on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, they'll be in Wichita for the Friends Tournament, taking on Bethany, MidAmerica Nazarene, Ottawa, and Friends to wrap up the road trip.