Courtesy of Midland Athletics
OMAHA, Neb. – Playing in a predetermined rescheduled game, No. 22 Midland University traveled to take on the College of Saint Mary in Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) action on Monday afternoon. The Warriors doubled up the Flames in the opener, winning 12-6, before nearly rewriting the record book in the second with a 23-7 victory. The 23 runs are the most scored against a conference opponent on record and the most in a single game since 2006, when Midland defeated SUNY Old Westbury 28-0.
GAME ONE: Midland 12, College of Saint Mary 6
With a strong wind at the offense’s back, runs came in bunches in the opener. Midland scored three runs in each of the first two innings and had eight through the first four frames, while CSM countered with four of its own.
In the first, Isabelle Pagan drove in Reese Floro and Matti Reiling, and Jayci Reimers came around to score on an error to make it 3-0. Kamdyn Barrientos drove in all three runs in the second with a home run over the center-field wall, bringing in Floro and Reiling.
Pagan added an RBI single in the third, scoring Ariyana Crafton. Barrientos followed with a double to the gap in left center, scoring Floro to make it 8-2 through two and a half innings.
After a scoreless fourth, the Warriors added three runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth. Pagan hit a sacrifice fly to score Floro, Reimers singled to drive in Reiling, and Alexis Shepherd followed with an RBI single to score Brie Lively, who entered as a runner for Barrientos. Reiling added an RBI single in the sixth to plate Floro and close the scoring for the Warriors.
CSM scored twice in the second, fourth, and fifth innings. After falling behind 6-0, the Flames were unable to get any closer the rest of the way.
Campbell Petrick earned the win, going 4.1 innings. She allowed four earned runs on nine hits and struck out two. Mackenzie Groninga closed the door, recording the final eight outs while allowing just one hit and striking out six of the 10 batters she faced.
Statistical Standouts
- Reese Floro: 5-for-5, 5 R, 2 2B
- Matti Reiling: 3-for-5, 3 R, RBI
- Isabelle Pagan: 2-for-4, 4 RBI, SF
- Kamdyn Barrientos: 4-for-5, R, 4 RBI, 2B, HR
- Jayci Reimers: 2-for-3, R, RBI, BB
- Alexis Shepherd: 2-for-5, RBI
- Mackenzie Groninga: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 6 K
GAME TWO: Midland 23, College of Saint Mary 7 (5 innings)
In the second game, Midland jumped out to a five-run lead in the first and added three more in the third. After surrendering six unearned runs in the bottom of the third, the Warriors exploded for 14 runs in the fourth inning.
Pagan started things off in the first with an RBI single to right, scoring Floro. With runners on the corners, she stole second ahead of an RBI single by Barrientos that brought home Reiling. Reimers followed with a two-RBI double. Jenna Lemley later drove in Reimers with a groundout to cap the inning at 5-0.
In the third, Floro delivered a two-run double down the right-field line, scoring Crafton and Shepherd. Reiling then singled to bring home Floro, making it 8-0.
CSM rallied for six runs in the bottom of the third, all unearned after an error with two outs kept the inning alive. The Flames recorded four hits in the inning.
As a cold front moved through, Midland’s bats heated up. The Warriors sent 18 batters to the plate in the top of the fourth, collecting 10 hits and scoring 14 runs.
The first time through the order, Lemley drove in a run with a single. Sophie De Rouinreached on a fielder’s choice that allowed another run to score. Floro brought in two with a base hit. Reiling followed with an RBI single, and Pagan capped the rally with a two-run home run to left.
During the second time through the order, Shepherd and Lemley hit back-to-back RBI singles. Grace Behrns added another with a base hit to center, and with the bases loaded and two outs, Kylie Phillips drove a three-RBI double into the gap to close the massive inning.
In the fifth, Aja Henderson—wearing No. 23—drove in run number 23 with a single. CSM added one run in the bottom half before the mercy rule ended the game at 23-7.
Paeton Coler picked up the win, going four innings and allowing six unearned runs on eight hits. She struck out two. Hannah Allen pitched the fifth, giving up two hits and one earned run while striking out three.
Statistical Standouts
- Reese Floro: 3-for-5, 3 R, 4 RBI, 2 2B
- Matti Reiling: 4-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI
- Isabelle Pagan: 2-for-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB, SB
- Kamdyn Barrientos: 2-for-4, 3 R, RBI, BB
- Jayci Reimers: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 2B
- Alexis Shepherd: 3-for-4, 3 R, RBI
- Jenna Lemley: 2-for-4, R, 3 RBI
- Kylie Phillips: 1-for-1, 3 RBI, 2B
- Hannah Allen: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 K
Midland (30-11, 12-2 GPAC) will take a nine-game winning streak into its next matchup: a conference doubleheader against Hastings (19-19, 7-11 GPAC) on Wednesday, April 26. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at the Smith Softball Complex in Hastings, Nebraska.
