Courtesy of Midland Athletics
TUCSON, Ariz. – No. 19-ranked Midland University returned to the diamond Thursday for a single game against the University of Providence. The teams needed extra innings to decide the outcome as the Warriors edged the Argos, 3-2, in eight innings.
Providence struck first with a run in the bottom of the second after a scoreless opening frame, using a pair of doubles to produce the game’s first run.
Midland responded in its next at-bat. Sophie De Rouin led off the inning with a walk, stole second with one out, and moved to third on a flyout. Alexis Shepherd then delivered a two-out single up the middle to knot the score at 1-1.
Back-to-back triples by the Argos put them back in front in the bottom of the third, but the Warriors answered again in the fourth. Isabelle Pagan singled to center to lead off the inning and was joined on the bases by Jayci Reimers and MaKenna Watkins, who were both hit by pitches. With the bases loaded, De Rouin lifted a fly ball to left that allowed Pagan to tag and score. The teams remained tied over the next three innings, sending the game to extras.
With the international tiebreaker in effect, Reimers moved Shepherd to third with a single. Watkins then delivered the eventual game-winning hit, singling through the right side to bring in Shepherd with two outs.
Mackenzie Groninga closed the door with a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the eighth to secure the win. She tossed a complete game, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks while striking out 13 to earn her seventh victory of the season.
Statistical Standouts
- Alexis Shepherd: 1-for-4, R, RBI
- MaKenna Watkins: 2-for-3, RBI
- Mackenzie Groninga: 8.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 13 K
Midland (16-6) will continue play at the Tucson Invitational Games on Friday with a pair of contests against (RV) Indiana Tech (13-8) and Viterbo (3-11).
