Courtesy of Midland Athletics
MELBOURNE, Fla. – No. 21 Midland University was back on the diamond for Day 3 of the Space Coast Spring Games on Tuesday, taking on Montreat College and No. 16 Southeastern University. The Warriors dropped their first game of the day, falling to the Cavaliers, 7-3. In the second game, they edged past the Fire, 2-1.
Game 1: Montreat 7, Midland 3
Reese Floro led off the game with a single and then scored when Isabelle Pagan doubled with one out. Emma Hodnet added to the tally, driving in the second run of the inning with an infield single. Midland led 2-0 after one.
In the second, the Cavaliers broke the game open with six runs on five hits. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases ahead of a single, an error, a fielder’s choice, and two more singles. Campbell Petrick allowed just two earned runs before giving way to Mackenzie Groninga, who recorded the final out of the inning.
The Warriors’ defense settled in after that, allowing just one hit and one run the rest of the way.
Midland had several chances to chip away at the deficit, putting runners on base in each of the final four innings. In the fifth, Jenna Lemley hit an RBI single up the middle, scoring Matti Reiling, who had singled earlier in the inning.
The Warriors struggled to capitalize with runners on base, leaving 11 stranded.
Statistical Standouts
- Reese Floro: 3-for-4, R
- Isabelle Pagan: 1-for-4, R, RBI, 2B
- Matti Reiling: 3-for-4, R
- Emma Hodnet: 1-for-2, RBI
- Jenna Lemley: 2-for-4, RBI
Game 2: Midland 2, Southeastern 1
In a ranked matchup to close out the day for Midland—and start the day for Southeastern—it was a pitcher’s duel. The Warriors went with Paeton Coler in the circle, while the Fire countered with their ace.
Both pitchers worked through the first two innings with relative ease. SEU struck out a pair, while Coler struck out one and worked around a two-out single.
Midland got its offense going in the third as Jenna Lemley worked a one-out walk. Sophie De Rouin singled to put two runners on, and Floro followed with a single through the right side to load the bases. Ariyana Crafton then put the Warriors on the scoreboard with a single to left.
Southeastern responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning. A leadoff triple set up the tying run, which scored on a one-out single to center. The score remained tied until the final inning.
In the seventh, Reiling got things started with a single, and Alexis Shepherd moved her up with a sacrifice bunt. A single by Lemley put two runners on. The Fire recorded the second out, but Floro delivered a clutch single to center, scoring Reiling for the go-ahead run.
Defensively, Midland closed out the game with a pair of groundouts and a pop-up to Floro at first base.
Statistical Standouts
- Reese Floro: 2-for-4, RBI
- Ariyana Crafton: 1-for-4, RBI
- Matti Reiling: 1-for-3, R
- Sophie De Rouin: 1-for-3, R
- Paeton Coler: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 3 K
Midland (14-8) will wrap up play in Florida on Wednesday, taking on Lourdes (0-2) and Aquinas (9-7) in rematches from Sunday. Game times are set for 11:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (CT) at the Space Coast USSSA Complex.
