Courtesy of Midland Athletics
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Preseason No. 15 Midland University kickstarted its 2025 season on Friday afternoon with a pair of games inside the American State Bank Dome. The Warriors opened the day with a 3-0 victory over Mount Mercy University and followed up with a 7-2 victory over Grand View University, which is receiving votes.
GAME ONE: Midland 3, Mount Mercy 0
With Paeton Coler in the circle, the Warriors jumped out early with three runs in the first inning. After the leadoff batter was retired, Jayci Reimers registered the first hit of the season with a double to left field. Newcomer Kamdyn Barrientos followed with an RBI triple to put the Warriors ahead of the Mustangs. The lead grew by two in the next at-bat as Aja Henderson turned on a pitch and sent it over the right-field fence for a two-run home run.
In the bottom of the inning, Coler settled in quickly and struck out three batters after giving up a leadoff single. She added three more strikeouts in the second and didn’t allow an extra-base hit all game. Through seven innings of work, she struck out a career-high 11 batters while allowing just two hits.
Midland’s offense was quiet after the first inning. The Warriors threatened to add to their total in the fourth as they worked a pair of runners into scoring position with two outs. Mount Mercy escaped the inning defensively but was unable to capitalize while at bat.
Statistical Standouts
- Paeton Coler: 7 IP, 2 H, BB, 11 K
- Kamdyn Barrientos: 1-for-4, R, RBI, 3B
- Aja Henderson: 1-for-4, R, 3 RBI, HR
- Reese Floro: 2-for-4, 2B
- Matti Reiling: 2 SB
- Emma Hodnet: 1-for-2, 2 SB
GAME TWO: Midland 7, Grand View 2
In the second game of the day, the Warriors had to come from behind after giving up a run in the first inning on a pair of hits and a walk. Isabelle Pagan hit a two-out double to center field that scored Alexis Shepard, who had reached base with a one-out single and then stole second.
Midland took the lead in the bottom of the second after working around a pair of hits in the top half. Matti Reiling led off with a single and then reached second with two outs. She scored as Ariyana Crafton reached on an infield error, giving Midland a 2-1 lead after two innings.
The third inning saw another run come in for Midland as Pagan drove in Henderson with a double to right-center. Two innings later, Reiling delivered a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to three runs. Alyssa Husing, who came on to pinch run, scored on the play.
In the sixth inning, the Warriors worked a pair of runners into scoring position as Jenna Lemley walked, Crafton singled, and Reese Floro moved them up a bag with a groundout to first. Shepard, another newcomer for the Warriors, stepped into the batter’s box and delivered her first collegiate home run to break open the game.
Grand View tried to mount a last-inning rally in the seventh. The Vikings got a leadoff single and moved the runner over with a groundout before scoring on another single. That was all they could muster as a groundout to the circle sealed the win for Midland.
Campbell Petrick went the distance for the Warriors, scattering eight hits and two walks over seven innings while striking out four.
Statistical Standouts
- Alexis Shepard: 2-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR, SB
- Aja Henderson: 1-for-2, R, 2 BB
- Isabelle Pagan: 2-for-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI
- Matti Reiling: 1-for-2, R, RBI, SAC
Midland (2-0) will continue its season-opening weekend with two more games inside the ASB Dome on Saturday. The Warriors will face Saint Xavier at 3:00 p.m. and MidAmerica Nazarene at 7:00 p.m. in Sioux Center.
