Courtesy of Midland Athletics
WICHITA, Kan. – No. 10-ranked Midland University was back in action on Friday as it took on Dakota State University and Avila University at the Friends Tournament in Wichita, Kansas. The Warriors started strong in the opening game, downing the Trojans 10-2 in five innings. Game two saw the Warriors score six runs in the final inning for the 9-1 win in five innings.
GAME ONE: Midland 10, Dakota State 2
In their opening game of the weekend, the Warriors jumped out early on the Trojans with four runs in the top of the 1st. After back-to-back walks of Emily Prai and Halle Meyer, Reese Floro singled to load the bases. Dakota State picked up outs during the next two at-bats but couldn’t get out of the inning unharmed as Matti Reiling delivered a double to the left-field corner, scoring all three Warriors. Camile Vestal then singled to the same spot, bringing in Reiling.
Following a pair of quick and scoreless innings, Midland broke through once more for four in the 4th. With Ariyana Crafton and Prai on base following a walk and a single, Floro drove in the lead runner with a single to center. Roni Foote then came on and doubled home two runs. Reiling added to her day at the plate with an infield single, scoring Foote who had moved over on the second out.
In the bottom of the 4th, Dakota State took advantage of an extended inning to score its first run of the game. The third batter of the inning reached on a dropped third strike and then raced around the bases on a single to right field.
Midland’s half of the 5th began with a walk of Vestal followed by a one-out double by Crafton. As Prai legged out an infield single, Vestal scored. Bella Pinotti drove in Crafton with a sacrifice fly to left, putting the Warriors on the verge of a run-rule win over the Trojans.
Needing two runs to extend the game, DSU was only able to muster one in its final at-bat thanks to an extended inning opportunity once again. Alexis Page, who went the entirety in the circle, closed out the game with a strikeout for a 10-2 win in five innings. Page had five strikeouts while allowing one earned run on four hits.
Statistical Standouts
- Emily Prai: 2-for-3, R, RBI, BB
- Reese Floro: 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI
- Roni Foote: 1-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B
- Matti Reiling: 2-for-3, R, 4 RBI, 2B
- Ariyana Crafton: 1-for-1, 2 R, 2 BB
GAME TWO: Midland 9, Avila 1
After three innings without a run, Midland broke through for three in the 4th. Roni Foote opened with a single to center and moved up a base after a wild pitch. Matti Reiling, who had a big day in the first game, continued her streak with an RBI double to left to open the scoring in game two.
Isabelle Page singled to put runners on the corners. Alyssa Husing came on to run and made her way up to second with a stolen base. Ariyana Crafton drove in the second run of the inning with a single to left and then Emily Prai made it a 3-0 game with a single to the shortstop.
Avila battled back with a run in the top of the 5th, hitting a lead-off solo home run. That would be the only run they’d score in the game as the Warriors’ defense settled back in to record the final three outs.
In the bottom half of the 5th, Midland’s bats got going again with six runs on three hits. Foote worked a one-out walk and then Reiling singled to the shortstop with two outs, putting runners on the corners. As Pagan came back up to the plate, she cleared the bases with a single to deep center.
After a pitching change, a walk and an error loaded up the bases. Prai drove in a pair of runners with a double to right field, pushing the Midland lead up to 7-1. After another error by the infield, Prai and Crafton scored to end the game via the mercy rule, 9-1.
Aside from one pitch, Aliyah Rincon was stellar in the circle. She tosses a one-hitter while striking out nine batters in 5.0 innings of work.
Statistical Standouts
- Emily Prai: 3-for-4, R, 3 RBI, 2B
- Roni Foote: 1-for-2, 2 R, BB
- Matti Reiling: 2-for-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B
- Isabelle Pagan: 2-for-2, R, RBI, BB
- Ariyana Crafton: 2-for-3, R, RBI
- Aliyah Rincon: 5.0 IP, H, ER, 9 K
Midland (11-2) will be back in action on Saturday when they take on No. 17 Ottawa (14-5) and No. 11 Baker (5-4) at 12:20 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., respectively.
