Courtesy of Midland Athletics
MELBOURNE, Fla. – Under the Florida sun one last time, No. 21 Midland University faced Lourdes University and Aquinas College at the Space Coast USSSA Complex. In a pair of rematches from Sunday, the Warriors completed the sweep of Lourdes with a 7-0 victory and then avenged their loss to Aquinas with an 11-2 win.
Game One: Midland 7, Lourdes 0
Midland wasted no time, jumping out to a lead in the first inning with a two-out rally. Isabelle Pagan and Kamdyn Barrientos hit back-to-back singles and moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Matti Reiling then drove them both in with a single to left, advancing to third on a two-base error by the outfielder. Jayci Reimers followed with an RBI single, capping off a four-run first inning.
Barrientos added to the lead in the second with a sacrifice fly, scoring Reece Floro, who led off the frame with a walk. The Warriors tacked on two more runs in the third. Jenna Lemleyreached on an error, bringing in Emma Hodnet. Grace Behrns, pinch-running for Lemley, then stole a base and later scored on Floro’s RBI single, pushing the lead to 6-0.
Midland plated its final run in the fifth. Sophie De Rouin, pinch-running for Chloe Wagner, who reached on a two-base error, came home on a defensive miscue with Floro at the plate.
In the circle, Paeton Coler and Campbell Petrick combined for a shutout. Coler pitched five innings, striking out five, while Petrick closed out the game with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts.
Statistical Standouts
- Paeton Coler – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 5 K
- Campbell Petrick – 2.0 IP, 0 H, 3 K
- Reese Floro – 1-for-3, R, RBI, BB
- Kamdyn Barrientos – 2-for-3, R, RBI, 2B, SAC
- Matti Reiling – 1-for-4, R, 2 RBI
Game Two: Midland 11, Aquinas 2 (6 innings)
In the final game of their road trip, the Warriors sought redemption against the Saints. Barrientos put Midland on the board first with a sacrifice fly in the opening inning. However, Aquinas responded in the third, tying the game on a double steal and taking the lead with a two-out RBI single.
The Warriors quickly answered in the fourth. Pagan led off with a double, and after a two-out walk by Reimers, Alexis Shepherd drove in pinch-runner Brie Lively with a single. Lemley then walked, and De Rouin reached on an error, bringing in another run. After a pitching change, Floro worked a bases-loaded walk to give Midland a 4-2 advantage.
Midland continued its offensive surge in the fifth as Lemley delivered a two-run single. The Warriors then broke the game open in the sixth, scoring five more runs. Barrientos and Reiling each had RBI singles before Lemley cleared the bases with a three-run double to left, making it 11-2.
Needing two runs to extend the game, Aquinas went down in order, securing the Warriors’ run-rule victory.
Mackenzie Groninga earned the win, pitching a complete game while allowing eight hits and two earned runs. She struck out four in six innings of work.
Statistical Standouts
- Isabelle Pagan – 4-for-4, R, 2B
- Kamdyn Barrientos – 1-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI
- Matti Reiling – 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI
- Alexis Shepherd – 2-for-3, 2 R, RBI, BB
- Jenna Lemley – 2-for-3, 5 RBI, BB
Midland (16-8) returns home for a quick turnaround as conference play begins on Friday. The Warriors will host Morningside (12-8) in a doubleheader at Schilke Fields, with first pitch set for 3 p.m. in Fremont, Nebraska.
