Courtesy of Midland Athletics
SHAWNEE, Kan. – No. 11-ranked Midland University returned to action Friday, opening play at the Midwest College Classic Top Gun Tournament in Kansas. The Warriors faced Bethany College and Oklahoma Wesleyan University to start the weekend, winning both games. They shut out the Swedes, 6-0, and then topped the Eagles, 7-3.
GAME ONE: Midland 6, Bethany 0
Emma Hodnet provided the spark in the first game of the day, belting a solo home run with one out in the first inning. Two innings later, she hit an infield single to put runners on the corners and then stole second base with one out. After the Warriors loaded the bases on an Isabelle Pagan walk, Jayci Reimers drew an RBI walk. Sophie De Rouin, who led off the inning with a double, scored on the play.
Following a pitching change by the Swedes, Grace Behrns drew the third consecutive walk to bring home another run and give Midland a 3-0 lead.
In the fourth, Hodnet delivered again. With two outs and De Rouin on third, she singled up the middle for an RBI.
Two innings later, Hodnet picked up her third RBI with a sacrifice fly to center field with the bases loaded. Sydney Atkins scored on the play after entering as a pinch hitter and reaching on a single to start the inning.
Campbell Petrick was back in form in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout for her fourth win of the year. She struck out 10 batters while allowing just one hit and no walks.
Statistical Standouts
- Emma Hodnet: 3-for-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR, SF, SB
- Jayci Reimers: 1-for-2, RBI, BB
- Sydney Atkins: 1-for-1, R
- Sophie De Rouin: 3-for-3, R, 2B, SB
- Campbell Petrick: 7.0 IP, 10 K, 1 H, 0 R
GAME TWO: Midland 7, Oklahoma Wesleyan 3
The Warriors wasted no time in the second game, scoring four runs in the top of the first against the Eagles. Hodnet led off with a one-out single and stole second with two outs. With a runner in scoring position, Midland’s offense erupted.
Isabelle Pagan delivered an RBI single to right field, and Jayci Reimers followed with an RBI double to center. Sydney Atkins kept the momentum going with an RBI single up the middle. After stealing second, Jaidan Wehrle added an RBI single to right as Midland built a 4-0 lead after its first at-bat.
Oklahoma Wesleyan answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning, scoring on a sacrifice fly after a single and double to open the frame.
Two innings later, Pagan extended the lead with a solo home run to center field, making it 5-1. An inning later, Wehrle joined the long-ball parade with a leadoff homer to center.
The Eagles capitalized on a pair of Midland defensive miscues in the fourth, scoring two runs on one hit and two errors to cut the deficit to 6-3.
Those runs proved to be Oklahoma Wesleyan’s last. Midland added an insurance run in the sixth when Mara Vonk reached on a two-out error and later scored on a De Rouin single to center.
Mackenzie Groninga went the distance in the circle, handing Oklahoma Wesleyan its fourth loss of the season. She struck out 11 of the 30 batters she faced, allowing one earned run on five hits and three walks.
Statistical Standouts
- Isabelle Pagan: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR
- Jayci Reimers: 2-for-4, R, RBI, 2B
- Sydney Atkins: 1-for-3, R, RBI, SB
- Jaidan Wehrle: 3-for-3, R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR
- Mackenzie Groninga: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 11 K
Midland (10-5) returns to action Saturday with two more games in Kansas. The Warriors will face (RV) Baker and No. 8 Central Methodist. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. in Shawnee, Kansas.
