Courtesy of Midland Athletics
SHAWNEE, Kan. – No. 15-ranked Midland University was back in action on Friday afternoon at the Top Gun Midwest College Classic in the Kansas City metro. The Warriors took the diamond against Graceland University and MidAmerica Nazarene University, securing a pair of shutout victories. They defeated Graceland 7-0 and MNU 3-0 in the first leg of their trip. Midland will continue play in Wichita on Saturday and Sunday with four more games.
Game One: Midland 7, Graceland 0
The Warriors struck early as Reese Floro led off with a walk and stole two bases. With one out, Isabelle Pagan grounded out to bring home the first run. After Kamdyn Barrientos drew a two-out walk, Jayci Reimers laced an RBI single up the middle to make it 2-0. The Yellowjackets escaped further damage with runners on the corners.
With Paeton Coler in the circle and Jenna Lemley behind the plate, Midland’s defense was solid all game. After allowing a leadoff single in the bottom of the first, the Warriors retired the next three batters on two popouts and a groundout. Graceland managed only three more hits the rest of the way, with its best scoring opportunity coming in the sixth. A pair of one-out singles put runners on, but a pickoff at first base and a foul out ended the threat.
Midland was held in check in the second inning before adding to its lead in the third. Pagan roped a double, and Barrientos followed with a two-run home run. Two batters later, Aja Henderson tripled to score Emma Hodnet, who was pinch-running for Reimers after her single.
The Warriors tacked on two more runs in the fifth. Barrientos singled to start the inning, and Brie Lively entered as a pinch-runner, promptly stealing second. After Hodnet drew a walk, Coler lined a two-run single down the left-field line to cap the scoring.
Hannah Allen pitched the final two innings, keeping the Yellowjackets off the board while allowing two hits and striking out one. Coler finished her outing with five shutout innings, striking out six while giving up just three hits.
Statistical Standouts
- Paeton Coler – 5.0 IP, 6 K, 3 H, 0 R; 1-for-4, 2 RBI
- Hannah Allen – 2.0 IP, 1 K, 2 H, 0 R
- Reese Floro – 1-for-3, R, BB
- Isabelle Pagan – 1-for-4, RBI, 2B
- Kamdyn Barrientos – 3-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR
- Jayci Reimers – 2-for-2, RBI
- Aja Henderson – 1-for-2, RBI, 3B
Game Two: Midland 3, MidAmerica Nazarene 0
In the final game of the day, Campbell Petrick took the circle with Claire Wisnieski behind the plate. Facing MidAmerica Nazarene for the second time this season, the Warriors changed up their approach.
Barrientos stayed hot under the Kansas sun, delivering an RBI single in the first inning to score Alexis Shepherd, who had worked a walk. Reimers followed with a sacrifice fly, bringing home Pagan, who had singled earlier in the frame.
Both pitchers settled in as the middle innings saw little offensive action. MNU was limited to just one hit until the sixth inning. In that frame, the Pioneers managed back-to-back singles with two outs, but Midland’s defense held firm, ending the threat with a groundout to second base.
The Warriors added an insurance run in the seventh. Henderson singled to right field with one out, and Sophie De Rouin entered as a pinch-runner. Wisnieski then lined an RBI single to center, extending the lead to 3-0.
Petrick went the distance, tossing a complete-game shutout while allowing six hits and striking out one.
Statistical Standouts
- Campbell Petrick – 7.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 K
- Isabelle Pagan – 1-for-3, R
- Kamdyn Barrientos – 2-for-3, RBI, 2B
- Claire Wisnieski – 1-for-2, RBI, BB
Midland (9-3) continues play on Saturday in Wichita at the Friends Tournament. The Warriors will face Bethany at 11 a.m. and MidAmerica Nazarene at 1:20 p.m. at the Twin Rivers Complex.
