No. 22 Warriors Move Up in Standings with Sweep of DWU

FREMONT, Neb. – After the regularly scheduled doubleheader was postponed, No. 22 Midland University hosted Dakota Wesleyan University on Tuesday afternoon at Schilke Fields. The Warriors came away with the series sweep of the Tigers, winning 6-2 and 4-2, to leapfrog them into second place in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) standings.

GAME ONE: Midland 6, Dakota Wesleyan 2

The Warriors took an early lead in the bottom of the first as Isabelle Pagan drove in Reese Floro, who led off with a single up the middle. Two batters later, Jayci Reimers brought home Matti Reiling with the bases loaded and no outs. DWU was able to get out of the inning, giving up just two runs on three hits.

The Tigers responded with a run in the second, working two hits and taking advantage of a passed ball that allowed the lead runner to reach third. The rally was cut short as the Warriors induced a groundout back to the circle to end the inning.

In the third, Midland's bats got going again. With two outs, Alexis Shepherd put together a long at-bat and wore down the DWU pitcher. The final pitch she saw was lifted into the steady wind and cleared the outfield fence for a solo home run.

Back-to-back doubles by Jenna Lemley and Sophie De Rouin pushed the lead to 4-1 after three complete innings.

Midland added a run in the fourth and another in the fifth while yielding just one more run in the top half of the inning. Kamdyn Barrientos hit an RBI single that scored Floro to make it 5-1, and Reiling brought in Ariyana Crafton to complete the scoring at 6-2.

Campbell Petrick went the distance in the circle, allowing seven hits and one earned run while striking out three. She picked up her 10th win of the season, improving to 10-4.

Statistical Standouts

• Reese Floro: 2-for-3, 2 R, BB
• Matti Reiling: 1-for-2, R, RBI, BB, SF
• Alexis Shepherd: 1-for-4, R, RBI, HR

GAME TWO: Midland 4, Dakota Wesleyan 2

In the nightcap, the Tigers jumped on the scoreboard with a leadoff home run in the top of the first. Midland answered quickly with a four-run bottom half to take control.

Floro led off the inning with a single down the left-field line and then stole second. On a pickoff attempt following the steal, the ball sailed into center field and Floro scampered home to tie the game.

A double by Pagan and a walk by Barrientos put two runners on with two outs. Shepherd reached on an error, allowing Pagan to score and Barrientos to advance to third. Lemley followed with an RBI blooper that landed just beyond the shortstop in shallow left. De Rouin then singled to the gap in right-center, bringing home Shepherd to make it 4-1. Midland tallied four runs on four hits, aided by two DWU errors.

The Tigers loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the second on a single, walk, and hit-by-pitch. A sacrifice fly plated a run, but Coler buckled down and escaped the inning with a strikeout and groundout.

Both teams settled in from there, with Midland limited to one hit and DWU to three over the final five innings.

Paeton Coler earned the complete-game win, tossing seven innings while allowing five hits and two earned runs. She struck out three.

Statistical Standouts

• Reese Floro: 1-for-3, R, SB
• Isabelle Pagan: 1-for-3, R, 2B
• Jenna Lemley: 1-for-1, RBI, BB
• Sophie De Rouin: 1-for-3, RBI

Midland (24-11, 6-2 GPAC) returns to action Wednesday as it hosts Doane (14-18, 6-6 GPAC) for a regularly scheduled conference doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 4 p.m. at Schilke Fields.