Courtesy of Midland Athletics
COLUMBUS, Ga. – Playing in an elimination game on day two of the NAIA Softball World Series, ninth-seeded Midland University faced fifth-seeded Central Methodist University. After falling behind early, the Warriors briefly took the lead before ultimately falling to the Eagles, 11-3, in six innings. The loss ends Midland’s season with a 40-18 overall record, marking their second trip to the final site in the past three seasons.
Central Methodist manufactured its first run of the game in the opening inning with a pair of walks, a single, and a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded. Midland limited the damage and escaped the inning down just 1-0.
The Warriors rallied in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with one out as Kamdyn Barrientos and Jayci Reimers singled ahead of a walk by Jenna Lemley. Alexis Shepherddelivered a two-run single up the middle, scoring pinch runner Emma Hodnet and Reimers to give Midland a 2-1 lead.
The advantage was short-lived. Central Methodist responded with two runs on two hits and a Midland error in the bottom half of the inning.
Trailing 3-2 in the fifth, the Warriors threatened again. Ariyana Crafton led off with a single and was followed by a base hit from Reese Floro. After a pitching change, back-to-back walks to Matti Reiling and Isabelle Pagan brought in the tying run. The Eagles’ reliever settled in and retired the next three batters to escape the jam.
In the bottom of the inning, the Eagles flipped the momentum with a leadoff double, a walk, and a single. A bases-clearing triple followed, and a sacrifice fly extended their lead to 7-3.
Midland went down in order in the sixth. In the bottom half, Central Methodist hit a two-run home run and then ended the game via the run rule with two more runs scoring on a two-out error, making the final 11-3.
Paeton Coler started in the circle and went four innings, allowing six earned runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out one. Mackenzie Groninga pitched the final 1.1 innings, giving up two earned runs on two hits. Midland committed two errors, which contributed to three unearned runs.
Statistical Standouts
- Reese Floro: 2-for-3
- Jayci Reimers: 1-for-3, R
- Alexis Shepherd: 1-for-3, 2 RBI
- Ariyana Crafton: 2-for-3, R
Midland finishes the season with 40 wins for the third consecutive year. The Warriors graduate a core group of contributors in Kamdyn Barrientos, Morgan Baska, Paeton Coler, Ariyana Crafton, Aja Henderson, Matti Reiling, and Reese Floro. They’ll look to retool with a strong incoming class and the development of returning underclassmen during the offseason.
