Courtesy of Midland Athletics
FREMONT, Neb. – No. 22-ranked Midland University wrapped up the regular season on Saturday afternoon as it hosted Mount Marty University in a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) doubleheader. The Warriors swept the Lancers by identical 9-1 scores, both in six innings, and honored their seven seniors between games.
GAME ONE: Midland 9, Mount Marty 1 (Six Innings)
It took until the third inning for things to get going offensively in the opener. Ariyana Craftonled off the frame with a walk and scored alongside Matti Reiling, who doubled, on a triple off the bat of Isabelle Pagan.
An inning later, the Warriors struck for four more runs. Alexis Shepherd set the table with a leadoff double, and Aja Henderson walked ahead of Morgan Baska, who laid down a textbook sacrifice bunt. Crafton drove in the first runner with a single through the infield and then stole second to put two runners in scoring position.
Reese Floro followed with a sacrifice fly, and Reiling delivered another RBI single. After Reiling swiped second, Pagan delivered an RBI single to right field, making it a 6-0 Midland lead after four innings.
In the sixth, Mount Marty broke up the shutout. Following a single and a groundout, the Lancers dropped in a single to shallow right field, which was misplayed by the outfielder, allowing an unearned run to score.
Looking to close out the game, the Warriors did just that. Baska worked a leadoff walk, and Brie Lively came on to pinch run. Floro singled and stole second to put two runners in scoring position. As Reiling legged out a single to third base, Lively sprinted home on the throw. With two runners on and one out, Pagan launched a home run over the fence in right-center field, ending the game via the eight-run rule after six innings.
Campbell Petrick threw a complete game, allowing four hits and no earned runs.
Statistical Standouts
- Reese Floro: 1-for-3, R, RBI
- Matti Reiling: 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B
- Isabelle Pagan: 4-for-4, R, 5 RBI, 3B, HR
- Ariyana Crafton: 1-for-2, 2 R, RBI, BB
- Campbell Petrick: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER
GAME TWO: Midland 9, Mount Marty 1 (Six Innings)
In the second game of the doubleheader, Midland got on the board early as Pagan hit a solo home run to right field in the first inning. The following inning, the Warriors added three more runs on four hits.
Shepherd led off the second with a single, matched by Henderson. Floro delivered a two-out RBI single and then stole second. Reiling followed with a two-RBI double, staking the Warriors to a 4-0 advantage.
After surrendering a run in the top of the third, Midland responded with two more. Jenna Lemley drove in Paxton Mitties and Shepherd with a single. Mitties, running for Kamdyn Barrientos who led off the inning with a walk, and Shepherd, who singled, each stole a base during the frame.
In the fourth, Pagan continued her standout day with an RBI single to center, scoring Floro, who led off with a single. Barrientos then drove in Reiling, who had also singled, extending the lead to 7-1.
Neither side scored in the fifth inning. Mount Marty went down in order in the sixth, and Midland closed things out. Floro and Reiling again set the table with back-to-back singles before Barrientos delivered the final RBI with a single to the gap in right-center, enforcing the eight-run rule for a 9-1 victory.
Paeton Coler tossed a complete game, allowing four hits, no earned runs, and striking out one.
Statistical Standouts
- Reese Floro: 3-for-4, 3 R, RBI
- Matti Reiling: 3-for-4, R, 2 RBI, 2B
- Isabelle Pagan: 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI, HR
- Kamdyn Barrientos: 3-for-3, 2 RBI, BB
- Alexis Shepherd: 2-for-3, 2 R
- Jenna Lemley: 1-for-2, 2 RBI
- Paeton Coler: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER
Midland (36-13, 18-4 GPAC) finishes the regular season in second place in the GPAC and will host one of the four-team pods in next week’s postseason tournament. The Warriors’ pod will feature third-seeded Morningside (29-15, 17-5 GPAC), sixth-seeded Dordt (22-27, 11-11 GPAC), and seventh-seeded Hastings (22-20, 10-12 GPAC).
Games will get underway on Wednesday, April 30, at Schilke Fields in Fremont, beginning at 11 a.m. Northwestern will host the other pod in Orange City, Iowa. For a complete look at the 2025 GPAC Softball Postseason Tournament, CLICK HERE.
