No. 23 Midland Sweeps Waldorf in Shortened Doubleheader

FREMONT, Neb. – With rain in the weekend forecast, No. 23 Midland University and Waldorf University moved their series up one day to Friday in Fremont. In their first-ever meeting as conference foes on the softball diamond, Midland earned a dominant sweep over Waldorf. Both games ended in five innings due to the mercy rule, with the Warriors winning 9-0 and 12-3.

GAME ONE: Midland 9, Waldorf 0 (5 innings)

Midland started slowly, scoring just two runs through the first three innings, before breaking the game open with a seven-run fourth inning.

Reese Floro set the tone early, leading off the game with a triple and scoring on a two-out infield single by Kamdyn Barrientos. In the third, Floro again led off with a triple and came home on Alexis Shepherd's sacrifice fly to center.

In the circle, Campbell Petrick kept Waldorf in check, allowing just one hit in the first two innings while striking out four through four innings.

The Warriors' offense exploded in the fourth. Jenna Lemley and Sophie De Rouin led off with back-to-back singles, followed by an RBI double from Ariyana Crafton. Floro added a sacrifice fly for another run before Shepherd launched a two-run homer to center. After an Isabelle Pagan single, Barrientos followed with a two-run homer to nearly the same spot. The rally continued with a Jayci Reimers single and a Matti Reiling RBI single to right, making it 9-0.

Petrick started the fifth inning, recording a groundout before Hannah Allen entered in relief. Waldorf managed two two-out walks, but Allen ended the game with a strikeout.

Statistical Standouts

• Reese Floro: 2-for-2, 2 R, RBI, 2 3B
• Alexis Shepherd: 1-for-2, R, 3 RBI, HR
• Kamdyn Barrientos: 3-for-3, R, 3 RBI, HR
• Campbell Petrick: 4.1 IP, 2 H, 4 K

GAME TWO: Midland 12, Waldorf 3 (5 innings)

Midland carried its offensive momentum into game two, scoring six runs in each of the first two innings. Waldorf countered with two runs in the second and one in the third but couldn't keep pace as the game ended after five innings via the mercy rule.

Floro led off the first inning with a single and scored on Shepherd's second home run of the day. Pagan followed with a single and was replaced by pinch-runner Paxton Mitties, who stole second and scored on a sacrifice fly by Reiling.

Midland loaded the bases with Lemley reaching on an error and De Rouin drawing a walk. Aja Henderson, pinch-hitting for an ill Crafton, took over mid-at-bat with an 0-2 count, worked the count full, and was hit by a pitch for an unconventional RBI. Floro capped the inning with a two-run single to left, putting Midland up 6-0.

After Waldorf plated two in the second, Midland responded with another six-run outburst. Pagan and Barrientos led off with singles before Reimers' single to left plated two runs due to a bobble by the outfielder. Reiling followed with an RBI single, prompting a pitching change. The Warriors kept the pressure on with a Henderson sacrifice fly and an RBI single from Floro. Pagan drove in the final run with a single through the right side.

Waldorf added a solo home run in the third, but Paeton Coler settled in to finish the game, allowing just five more hits over the final two-plus innings. She went the distance, giving up one earned run on eight hits while striking out four.

Statistical Standouts

• Reese Floro: 3-for-3, R, 3 RBI
• Alexis Shepherd: 1-for-2, R, 2 RBI, HR
• Isabelle Pagan: 3-for-3, R, RBI
• Jayci Reimers: 2-for-2, R
• Matti Reiling: 1-for-2, R, 2 RBI

Midland (21-10, 3-1 GPAC) returns to action next week with three conference doubleheaders. First up is a rescheduled matchup at Briar Cliff (7-19, 1-9 GPAC) on Tuesday, April 1, at 3 p.m. in Sioux City, Iowa.