Courtesy of Midland Athletics
WICHITA, Kan. – In a weather-shortened weekend, No. 19 Midland University faced Bethany College and Sterling College at the Friends Invitational in Wichita. The Warriors won both games in five innings, downing Bethany 10-1 and Sterling 12-0.
GAME ONE: Midland 10, Bethany 1 (five innings)
Taking to the plate first, the Warriors struck for three runs on four hits in their opening at-bat. Back-to-back doubles by Grace Behrns and Emma Hodnet set the table for Isabelle Pagan. A groundout to second base scored the first run. After a hit-by-pitch to Jaiden Wehrle and a single by Jayci Reimers loaded the bases, MaKenna Watkins singled to left to bring in two more runs.
Following a scoreless second inning, Midland added three more in the third. Maddison Zachled off the inning with a double and later scored on an infield error. Sydney Atkins kept things going with a single and scored when Danielle Schoby followed with a base hit. Schoby later came home as Sophie De Rouin singled, and another error allowed the run to score, putting the Warriors up 6-0.
Two more runs came in during the fourth. With Hodnet on base, Zach singled. During the play, Bethany committed another error that allowed Hodnet to score while Zach advanced to third. A second error in the inning brought another run across, pushing Midland closer to the run-rule margin.
In the fifth, Midland added a pair of insurance runs. After Schoby earned a leadoff walk, Rubi Guzman entered to pinch run. She promptly stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. De Rouin walked and then stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Madison Grant drove in the lead runner with a sacrifice fly. The final run came across after the bases were loaded via two more walks. A third consecutive walk forced in the final run for Midland, pushing the lead to double digits.
Bethany avoided the shutout with a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, but the run-rule ended the game with Midland winning 10-1.
Campbell Petrick earned the win with 4.0 innings of work. She allowed five hits and one walk while striking out one batter. Chloe Wagner threw one inning, giving up one hit and one run.
Statistical Standouts
- Emma Hodnet: 2-for-3, 2 R, 2B
- Maddison Zach: 2-for-2, 3 R, 2B, SB
- MaKenna Watkins: 1-for-3, 2 RBI
- Campbell Petrick: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 K
GAME TWO: Midland 12, Sterling 0 (five innings)
In the final game in Wichita, it was a battle of Warriors as Midland took on Sterling. Grace Behrns walked to start the game and came in to score with two outs when Isabelle Pagandelivered a single. A double by Jayci Reimers drove in Pagan, then MaKenna Watkins hit an RBI triple. She later scored on a wild pitch, putting Midland in control, 4-0.
Both teams were held in check in the second before Midland added two more runs in the third. With one out and two runners on, Watkins doubled to center to score Pagan, who had reached on a single.
Sydney Atkins followed with a single through the right side, scoring Reimers, who had walked earlier in the inning.
The fourth inning saw Midland erupt for five runs on three hits while Sterling committed two errors. With runners in scoring position, Emma Hodnet reached on an error that allowed Sophie De Rouin to score. Another error by the catcher allowed Hodnet to advance to second and third while Behrns scored. Jaiden Wehrle cleared the bases in the next at-bat with a two-run home run over the left-field fence. One more run came home in the inning as Chloe Wagner scored on a wild pitch after entering as a pinch runner.
In the fifth, Midland added one final run as Paxton Mitties scored on an error with Maddison Zach at the plate. Midland secured the run-rule victory, 12-0.
Sydney Atkins went the distance for her first collegiate win. She tossed 5.0 innings, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out three batters for the shutout.
Statistical Standouts
- Grace Behrns: 1-for-1, 2 R, 2 BB
- Jaiden Wehrle: 1-for-4, R, 2 RBI, HR
- Isabelle Pagan: 2-for-3, 2 R, RBI
- Jayci Reimers: 1-for-1, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB
- MaKenna Watkins: 2-for-2, R, 2 RBI, BB
- Sydney Atkins: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 3 K
Midland (13-6) will travel to sunny Arizona for a week of games at the Tucson Invitational Games. First up is a Tuesday afternoon matchup with Mayville State.
