Warriors Split Games on First Day of Friends Invite

WICHITA, Kan. – No. 15 Midland University was back in action Saturday, competing in the annual Friends University Tournament. The Warriors dropped their first game of the day, falling 4-1 to Bethany College, before bouncing back with a 5-4 win over MidAmerica Nazarene University.

Game One: Bethany 4, Midland 1

The Warriors struck first as Kamryn Barrientos hit a leadoff solo home run to start the second inning. Bethany responded in the fourth to tie the game and surged ahead in the sixth with back-to-back home runs—a two-run blast to right-center and a solo shot down the left-field line.

Midland's offense was stifled for most of the game. Other than Barrientos' homer, the Warriors managed just three other hits. Jayci Reimers singled in the first, Ariyana Crafton added a hit in the third, and Barrientos doubled in the fourth.

Paeton Coler took the loss in the circle. Going six innings with four earned runs and four strikeouts.

Statistical Standout:

• Kamdyn Barrientos: 2-for-3, R, RBI, HR

Game Two: Midland 5, MidAmerica Nazarene 4

Facing the Pioneers for the third time this season, Midland started Campbell Petrick in the circle. A day after pitching a complete-game shutout against MNU, Petrick struggled, allowing two runs on five hits through one-plus innings.

Mackenzie Groninga entered in relief in the second and pitched the rest of the way. MidAmerica Nazarene added two more runs in the third after an error extended the inning.

For the second straight game, Barrientos homered in her first plate appearance, launching a solo shot to lead off the second and cut the deficit to 2-1.

Trailing by three in the third, Midland's offense found its rhythm. Crafton doubled with one out, stole third, and scored on a two-run homer by Alexis Shepherd, pulling the Warriors within a run.

In the fifth, Sophie De Rouin led off with a double, advanced to third, and scored on a Reese Floro sacrifice fly to tie the game at 4-4.

After holding MNU scoreless in the final two innings, Midland set up a walk-off opportunity in the bottom of the seventh. Emma Hodnet singled to start the inning, De Rouin reached on an error, and Crafton singled to load the bases with no outs. Floro then delivered a walk-off sacrifice fly for the 5-4 victory.

Statistical Standouts:

• Reese Floro: 2 RBI, 2 SF
• Alexis Shepherd: 2-for-3, R, 2 RBI, HR
• Kamdyn Barrientos: 2-for-3, R, RBI, HR
• Ariyana Crafton: 2-for-3, R, 2B, SB
• Mackenzie Groninga: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 6 K

Midland (10-4) wraps up its Kansas road trip Sunday with two final games in Wichita. The Warriors will face Ottawa at 10 a.m. and Friends at 12:20 p.m. at the Twin Rivers Youth Complex.