Courtesy of Midland Athletics
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – With colder weather and snow flurries on Friday, No. 10 Midland University saw its schedule at the 2024 Kansas City Softball Invitational shifted. On Sunday, the Warriors took the diamond against three nonconference opponents, going 2-1 on the day. Midland won its first game over St. Mary of the Woods College, 8-3, and then took down Mayville State University, 6-1. In the third and final game of the day, the Warriors rallied to pull even with Park University before losing on a walk-off home run, 4-2.
GAME ONE: Midland 8, St. Mary-Woods 3
The Warriors put early pressure on the Pomeroys with runs in each of the first four innings. In the 1st, Roni Foote drove in the first runs of the game with a two-run home run, scoring Jayci Reimers. The 2nd inning saw Halley Meyer lead off with a solo homer over the left-field wall. Later on, Reimers drove in Ariyana Crafton with a single through the left side, and then a batter later, Reece Floro tripled down the right field line, making it a 5-0 game.
Just one run came across in the 3rd as Crafton singled with two runners on, scoring Amanda Schmaderer. An inning later, Schmaderer cleared the bases with a two-run homer to left-center.
In the circle, Aliyah Rincon went 4.1 innings with 7 strikeouts. Alexis Page and Paeton Coler came on in relief, pitching the final 2.2 innings.
Statistical Standouts
- Jayci Reimer: 1-for-3, 2 R, RBI
- Roni Foote: 1-for-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR
- Amanda Schmaderer: 3-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, HR
- Halle Meyer: 1-for-2, R, RBI, BB, HR, 2 SB
- Aliyah Rincon: 4.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 7 K
GAME TWO: Midland 6, Mayville State 1
In their second game of the day, Midland opened the bottom of the 1st with a trio of runs. They were able to put pressure on Mayville State, forcing a pair of errors. Jayci Reimers drove in Emily Prai as she reached via an error with the bases loaded. Matti Reiling followed up with an RBI as she reached on a fielder’s choice. Reese Floro scored on the hit and then Roni Foote came in after an error by the infield.
After being held in check for the next three innings, the Warriors broke through once again for three runs in the 5th. After Floro reached on a one-out error, Amanda Schmaderer drove her in with a single through the left side. After the Comets retired the second out, Matti Reiling reached on the second error of the inning. Foote and Alyssa Husing, who came on as a courtesy runner, scored to make it 6-0.
In the top of the 6th, Mayville State broke up the shutout bid as it manufactured a run with a sacrifice fly.
Paeton Coler went the distance in the circle, scattering three hits over 7.0 innings of work with three hits allowed and five strikeouts.
Statistical Standouts
- Reese Floro: 0-for-2, 2 R, 2 BB
- Amanda Schmaderer: 1-for-3, RBI
- Roni Foote: 2-for-3, 2 R
- Camile Vestal: 1-for-2, 2B, BB
- Paeton Coler: 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 K
GAME THREE: Park 4, Midland 2
Playing for the third time on Sunday, Midland went up against a much-improved Park team that began its season with an 8-0 win earlier in the day over Columbia.
The Pirates struck early as their leadoff hitter smacked a triple to begin the bottom of the 1st. During the next at-bat, a wild pitch allowed the game’s initial run to come across. Two innings later, Park was able to get another run on the board with an infield groundout with a runner on third.
Midland’s offense was kept quiet most of the afternoon with just five baserunners through the first five innings. In the 5th, they had their best chance with a pair of singles but were kept in check by Park’s starting pitcher.
In the 6th, the Warriors’ bats finally started to get in sync as Reece Floro opened with a double down the left-field line. Roni Foote hit a double of her own to right-center in the next at-bat, scoring the first run for Midland and driving the Park starter from the circle.
With a new arm in the middle, Foote moved up to third via a passed ball. After the innings’ first out was recorded, Matti Reiling came through with a clutch single that scored Foote and tied the game. She moved up to second on a wild pitch but the Warriors limited to just two runs on three hits in the inning.
After getting the Pirates out in order in the bottom of the 6th, Ariyana Crafton worked a walk to start the top of the 7th for the Warriors. Despite having the top of the lineup coming up, they were kept from pushing ahead the go-ahead run.
In the bottom of the 7th, Park’s first two batters were sat down via pop-outs. A bunt single by their leadoff hitter put a runner on and the next batter took advantage of a tough pitch, homering over the right field fence for the walk-off win.
Aliyah Rincon pitched 6.2 innings for Midland and gave up an uncommon four runs on seven hits with just two strikeouts.
Statistical Standouts
- Reece Floro: 1-for-4, R, 2B
- Roni Foote: 1-for-3, R, RBI, 2B, BB
- Matti Reiling: 1-for-3, RBI
Midland (7-2) will look to bounce back from its setback on Monday as it continues to play down in Kansas City. The Warriors will take on Benedictine (5-1) at 10:00 a.m. followed by a game with Missouri Valley (0-2) at noon.
