Courtesy of Midland Athletics
SHAWNEE, Kan. – No. 11-ranked Midland University was back in action Saturday on the final day of the Midwest College Classic Top Gun Tournament, facing (RV) Baker University and No. 8 Central Methodist University. The Warriors were held in check in their early-season rematch with the Wildcats, falling 2-0. In the ranked showdown with the Eagles, Midland got three home runs from Isabelle Pagan — including a walk-off — to secure a 7-6 victory.
GAME ONE: Baker 2, Midland 0
Early on, it was a pitcher’s duel between Midland’s Mackenzie Groninga and Baker’s Kira Baker. The two hurlers kept both offenses in check through three innings.
In the fourth, the Wildcats broke through with a walk followed by a double and a single. Baker took advantage, and the two-run lead proved to be more than enough.
Midland battled throughout the game but was unable to solve the opposing pitcher. The Warriors drew three walks and had one runner reach on an error, but Baker tossed a complete-game no-hitter.
Groninga went 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out five. Campbell Petrick threw the final 2.1 innings, allowing no hits and striking out two.
GAME TWO: Midland 7, Central Methodist 6
After being shut out in the first game, Midland’s offense came alive early in Game Two. In the bottom of the first, the Warriors scored three runs on two hits. Isabelle Pagan delivered a three-run home run, scoring Grace Behrns and Alexis Shepherd. Behrns led off the inning with a double, and Shepherd followed with a single and a stolen base.
After a quiet second and third innings, Midland added two more runs on back-to-back home runs in the fourth. Pagan led off the frame with her second homer of the game, and Jayci Reimers followed with one of her own.
In the fifth, the Warriors extended the lead as Reimers drove in Shepherd with a two-out single to center field.
Central Methodist got on the board in the top of the sixth with a two-run homer. After two singles and an error loaded the bases, a single to center plated two more runs. Another error loaded the bases again, and a walk pulled the Eagles within one.
After Midland was retired in order in the sixth, Central Methodist completed the comeback in the seventh. With two outs and runners on, a single to center drove in the tying run. The Eagles, however, were unable to take the lead as Midland recorded the final out with the bases loaded.
In the bottom of the seventh, the first two Warriors were retired. That brought Pagan to the plate. On the first pitch she saw, Pagan drove the ball over the right-field fence for a walk-off home run, sealing the 7-6 win.
In the circle, Petrick threw 5.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts. Groninga earned the win in relief, allowing one run on one hit in 1.1 innings.
Statistical Standouts
- Isabelle Pagan: 3-for-4, 3 R, 5 RBI, 3 HR
- Alexis Shepherd: 1-for-3, 2 R, BB
- Jayci Reimers: 2-for-3, R, 2 RBI
- Grace Behrns: 3-for-4, 2B
Midland (11-6) returns to Kansas next weekend for four games at the Friend Invite in Wichita. The Warriors will face Mayville State and York on Friday, March 6, before taking on Bethany and Saint Mary on Saturday.
