No. 22 Warriors Rebound to Split with Hastings

FREMONT, Neb. – With rain in the forecast for Wednesday, No. 22-ranked Midland University moved up its Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) doubleheader against Hastings College, hosting the Broncos on Tuesday at Schilke Fields. The Warriors dropped the opener, 7-4, but bounced back to take game two, 5-4, earning a series split.

GAME ONE: Hastings 7, Midland 4

Offense was hard to come by early, with just one hit recorded between the two teams through the first three innings—a single by Hastings in the first. The Broncos broke through in the fourth, stringing together five singles to score three runs and take a 3-0 lead. Midland remained hitless until the fifth when Alexis Shepherd broke up the no-hitter with a double.

Hastings added insurance in the seventh, scoring three unearned runs on one hit and a pair of Midland errors to extend the lead to 7-0.

Midland mounted a rally in the bottom half of the inning. Matti Reiling led off with a single, followed by two quick outs. Reimers and Shepherd then hit back-to-back doubles, plating two runs. Jenna Lemley singled home Shepherd, and Ariyana Crafton drove in Brie Lively—who ran for Lemley—with a single to left. With the tying run on base, Hastings induced a flyout to end the comeback bid.

Campbell Petrick pitched 6.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits with six strikeouts. Mackenzie Groninga recorded the final two outs, giving up one hit and one walk.

Statistical Standouts

• Matti Reiling: 1-for-4, R
• Jayci Reimers: 1-for-3, R, RBI, 2B
• Alexis Shepherd: 2-for-3, R, RBI, 2 2B
• Jenna Lemley: 1-for-2, RBI, BB
• Ariyana Crafton: 1-for-3, RBI

GAME TWO: Midland 5, Hastings 4

Hastings struck early again in game two, scoring two runs in the first and another in the second. Midland answered in the third with two runs on three hits. Reese Floro started the rally with an infield single, and after a fielder's choice, Isabell Pagan doubled to right to score Matti Reiling. Kamdyn Barrientos followed with an RBI single to make it 3-2.

In the fourth, Jayci Reimers reached on a hit-by-pitch and was replaced by Emma Hodnet. After a walk to Shepherd and a sacrifice bunt by Lemley, Sophie De Rouin drew another walk to load the bases. Crafton plated the tying run with a single through the left side, and Floro gave the Warriors a 4-3 lead with a fielder's choice RBI.

The Broncos tied the game in the fifth on a walk and two singles but Midland responded in the sixth. Grace Behrns, running for Lemley who reached on an error, came around to score the go-ahead run on Floro's single to right. The run was unearned.

In the seventh, Midland worked around a leadoff single by turning a 4-6-3 double play and then securing a flyout to seal the win.

Paeton Coler earned her 14th win of the season with the complete-game victory, allowing four runs on seven hits with two strikeouts.

Statistical Standouts

• Reese Floro: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
• Isabelle Pagan: 2-for-4, R, RBI, 2B
• Kamdyn Barrientos: 1-for-3, RBI
• Ariyana Crafton: 2-for-3, RBI

Midland (34-13, 16-4 GPAC) will return to action this weekend when it hosts Mount Marty (20-17, 10-8 GPAC) for a Saturday afternoon doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. The Warriors will recognize their 2025 senior class in a ceremony between games.