Warriors Rally After Opening Loss to Begin Postseason

FREMONT, Neb. — Play began in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Tournament on Wednesday in Fremont, with No. 24 Midland University hosting three other teams in the Midland Bracket. The top-seeded Warriors opened against eighth-seeded Hastings College and fell 3-1 in a low-scoring upset. Midland bounced back in an elimination game against fifth-seeded Northwestern College, using an early offensive surge to secure a 5-0 victory and advance to Thursday. Earlier in the day, Dakota Wesleyan defeated Northwestern, 7-6, before falling to Hastings by the same score.

GAME ONE: Hastings 3, Midland 1

After a scoreless first inning, Hastings struck first with a solo home run in the second. The Broncos added another run in the third following an error that would have ended the inning. Midland answered in the bottom half of the third as MaKenna Watkins drew a one-out walk and stole second before Alexis Shepherd singled to put runners on the corners. Following a foul out, the Warriors executed a double steal, with Watkins swiping home as Shepherd advanced to second to cut the deficit to 2-1. Hastings added an insurance run in the fifth using a walk, a productive groundout, and a single. Midland managed just four hits and was held scoreless over the final three innings. Campbell Petrick took the loss, allowing two earned runs on six hits while striking out four.

Statistical Standouts

• MaKenna Watkins: 1-for-3, R, BB, 2B, 2 SB
• Emma Hodnet: 2-for-3, 2B

GAME TWO: Midland 5, Northwestern 0

In an elimination game that began just before 8 p.m., Midland found its rhythm early, scoring three runs in the second inning. After Emma Hodnet reached on a walk and Maddison Zach advanced via a fielder's choice, Zach stole second, and Claire Wisnieski drew a walk. Sophie De Rouin moved both runners into scoring position with a bunt before Jaidan Wehrle delivered a two-out RBI double to right-center. Watkins followed with an RBI double to left-center to extend the lead. Midland added single runs in the third and fourth innings, with Hodnet scoring on a throwing error and Shepherd driving in Watkins with a double. In the circle, Mackenzie Groninga dominated, allowing just two hits and striking out seven in a complete-game shutout to improve to 22-3 on the season.

Statistical Standouts

• Jaidan Wehrle: 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI, 2B
• MaKenna Watkins: 2-for-3, R, RBI, BB, 2B
• Alexis Shepherd: 1-for-3, RBI, BB, 2B, SB
• Emma Hodnet: 0-for-0, R, 3 BB
• Mackenzie Groninga: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 7 K

Midland (37-13) returns to action Thursday in an elimination game against Dakota Wesleyan, with first pitch set for noon at Schilke Fields. The winner will face Hastings 30 minutes after the conclusion of that game.