Courtesy of Midland Athletics
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – In a winner-take-all championship game, No. 21-ranked Midland University took on No. 2-ranked Oregon Institute of Technology on Thursday. The Warriors jumped out to an early lead, used a three-run fourth inning to reclaim momentum, and withstood a late charge by the Owls to clinch a spot in next week’s NAIA Softball World Series.
The Warriors struck first with a textbook opening inning. Reese Floro led off with a double, advanced to third on a flyout by Matti Reiling, and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Isabelle Pagan to give Midland a 1-0 lead.
Oregon Tech responded in the third inning, capitalizing on a pair of errors to plate two unearned runs. The lead was short-lived, though, as Midland answered in the top of the fourth.
Jenna Lemley tied the game with a solo home run to left field. Sophie De Rouin followed with a single, and Ariyana Crafton reached on an infield error. After a sacrifice bunt by Floro moved both runners into scoring position, Reiling drove in De Rouin with a sacrifice fly. Pagan followed with a single to left, bringing home Crafton and putting the Warriors ahead 4-2.
In the fifth, Midland tacked on another run with disciplined hitting. Alexis Shepherd singled to right, Lemley followed with a single, and Crafton loaded the bases with a two-out hit. Floro then drew a bases-loaded walk to give Midland a 5-2 cushion.
The Owls were quiet in the fifth but threatened in the sixth, scoring on a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 5-3.
Midland nearly extended its lead in the seventh. Chloe Wagner and Floro both walked, and Reiling singled to load the bases with one out. However, the Owls escaped the jam with a groundout to stay within three.
In the bottom of the seventh, Oregon Tech—seeking its seventh consecutive trip to the World Series—put two runners on, but Midland closed the door. The final out came on a sharp grounder to Reiling at shortstop, who fired to Floro at first to seal the win and send the Warriors to their second World Series appearance in three seasons.
Paeton Coler went the distance in the circle, allowing just one earned run on seven hits while striking out three over seven innings.
Statistical Standouts
- Reese Floro: 1-for-2, R, RBI, 2B, SAC
- Matti Reiling: 2-for-4, RBI, SF
- Isabelle Pagan: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, SF
- Jenna Lemley: 2-for-4, R, RBI, HR
Midland (40-16) will return home briefly before traveling to Columbus, Georgia, for the 2025 NAIA Softball World Series. The Warriors, seeded No. 9, will face No. 8 Grand View University in the opening round on Thursday. First pitch at the South Commons Complex is set for 10 a.m. ET.
