MARION, Ind. – On an overcast day in the middle of Indiana, Midland University’s 2022 softball season came to a close as they fell to No. 7-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University on Wednesday. The Warriors, who had challenged the top-seed and host school a day earlier, had their bats quieted for the first time all week and they fell to the Wildcats, 8-0 in five innings.
Indiana Wesleyan struck for a pair of runs in each of the first two innings. They hit a pair of home runs, a two-run shot in the 1st and a solo homer in the 2nd. The Midland defense found their groove in the 3rd and 4th, as they set the Wildcats down in order and then worked around a two-out single.
The Warriors’ bats never could get going, getting just one hit on the Wildcats’ starter. The lone hit came in the opening frame as Aliyah Rincon singled to centerfield with one out.
Midland’s best chance on offense came in the 4th as Hailee Fliam earned a trip to first after getting hit by a pitch. Halle Meyer joined her on the bases with one out as she reached on a fielder’s choice and then Carly Pfitzer loaded the bases with a walk. The threat ended a batter later as the Warriors lined into a double play.
Rincon started and went 1.2 innings with three strikeouts. In relief, Hailee Fliam went the rest of the way, pitching 3.1 innings in her final outing as a Warrior.
“We had a successful year winning our conference regular season,” said head coach Beth Singleton. “We had a young team this season that grew throughout, thanks in part to solid senior leadership. They have been a part of several great teams the past few seasons. Thank you for all that you have given to our program.”
Midland’s season ends with a 38-12 record. They won the Great Plains Athletic Conference regular-season title with a 19-3 mark, sweeping eight conference double-headers on their way to their fourth straight NAIA Opening Round appearance.
