Courtesy of Midland Athletics
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – In a matchup of day-one winners at the 2025 NAIA Softball Opening Round, No. 21-ranked and third-seeded Midland University took on top-seeded and No. 2-ranked Oregon Tech on Tuesday. The Warriors jumped out to an early lead, scoring six runs in the first two innings and building an 8-3 advantage. Oregon Tech stormed back to take the lead in the fifth, but Midland responded late, earning a 12-10 win to advance to the Klamath Falls Bracket championship game.
Matti Reiling and Kamdyn Barrientos sparked the Warriors’ offense in the first inning. Reiling reached on a one-out single, and Barrientos followed with a two-out home run over the left field fence. Midland kept rolling in the second as Alexis Shepherd led off with a single and came around to score on a two-run blast from Jenna Lemley. Later in the inning, Isabelle Pagan came through with a two-out single up the middle to plate Reese Floro and Sophie De Rouin.
In the bottom half, Oregon Tech took advantage of an overturned call at first base and launched a three-run homer to cut into the deficit.
Midland answered in the third, capitalizing on an Oregon Tech error. Shepherd and Jayci Reimers reached safely to start the inning, setting up Lemley for an RBI double to left-center. Floro added to the lead with a sacrifice fly, giving the Warriors an 8-3 edge.
The Owls responded with two runs in the fourth and added four more in the fifth to take a 9-8 lead.
After a scoreless sixth, the Warriors needed a run to stay alive in the seventh. Pagan led off with a double and was followed by singles from Barrientos and Reimers. With the bases loaded and no outs, Oregon Tech turned a double play, but Pagan scored to tie the game. Lemley was then intentionally walked, bringing up Aja Henderson, who delivered one of the season’s biggest hits—a go-ahead three-run home run to left field.
Oregon Tech scored once and loaded the bases in the bottom half, but Reimers sealed the win with a leaping catch on a line drive for the final out.
Midland used three pitchers in the game. Paeton Coler started and went 3.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits with one strikeout. Mackenzie Groninga pitched 1.1 innings in relief, surrendering three earned runs on three hits. Campbell Petrick closed out the game and earned the win, throwing 2.1 innings with one earned run, three hits, and one strikeout.
Statistical Standouts
- Isabelle Pagan: 3-for-4, R, 2 RBI
- Kamdyn Barrientos: 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI, HR
- Alexis Shepherd: 1-for-3, 2 R
- Jenna Lemley: 2-for-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR, BB
- Aja Henderson: 1-for-3, R, 3 RBI, HR
Midland (39-15) advances to Wednesday’s bracket championship game, where it will face the winner of Oregon Tech and the Jamestown-Southeastern game. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. CT.
