Courtesy of Midland Athletics
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Playing inside the Dordt Dome for the second straight day, No. 11-ranked Midland University faced Culver-Stockton College and (RV) Benedictine College on Saturday in Sioux City. The Warriors dropped both games, falling 2-0 to Culver-Stockton before suffering a heartbreaker in eight innings, 3-2, against Benedictine.
GAME 1: Culver-Stockton 2, Midland 0
The Warriors’ bats were held in check by the Wildcats’ defense. Midland was able to get a few baserunners aboard, but timely hits to bring in runs proved elusive. In the first inning, a two-out single followed by a walk came up empty.
In the top of the fifth, Culver-Stockton reached base on an error and a hit-by-pitch. A sacrifice bunt and a popout nearly got the Warriors out of the jam, but a two-out double into the gap plated what would prove to be the game’s only two runs.
Midland had a chance to respond in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of hits. Sydney Atkins led off with a single, and Sophie De Rouin followed with a one-out single, but both runners were left stranded after a fielder’s choice erased the lead runner and an infield popup ended the threat.
Atkins went 5 1/3 innings in her first collegiate start, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out nine batters. She was tagged with the loss, allowing one earned run. Mackenzie Groninga pitched the final 1 2/3 innings in relief and recorded two strikeouts.
Statistical Standouts
- Isabelle Pagan: 1-for-3
- Alexis Shepherd: 1-for-2, BB
- Sydney Atkins: 1-for-3, 5.1 IP, 2 H, 9 K
- Sophie De Rouin: 1-for-3
GAME 2: Benedictine 3, Midland 2 (8 innings)
In the final game of the weekend, defense and pitching were sharp on both sides. Midland managed just two hits through the first six innings, while Benedictine collected four hits through five before delivering a pair of clutch hits in the bottom of the sixth.
The Ravens reached on an error and then doubled to put two runners in scoring position. The Warriors picked off the lead runner at third before issuing a two-out walk. A triple scored two runs, breaking the tie and putting Benedictine three outs away from the win.
In the top of the seventh, Chloe Wagner worked a leadoff walk, and Emma Hodnetdelivered a clutch triple to cut the deficit in half. After an error and an out, MaKenna Watkinsdrove in the tying run with a hard infield groundout. A one-two-three bottom of the inning sent the game into extras.
Playing under the international tiebreaker, Midland was unable to advance its runner from second in the top of the eighth. Benedictine’s runner stole third and scored the winning run on a single to end the game.
