Sterling goes 1-2 in the KCAC Tournament

Sterling College softball battled in the KCAC Tournament going 1-2 in Branson, Mo. on Wednesday and Thursday, April 30 and May 1. The Lady Warriors battled hard but through rain, postponements and suspended games but came up short, falling out of NAIA World Series contention.

Game 1

The Lady Warriors started with a narrow 3-2 loss to Avila University in the opening round of the KCAC Tournament.

Both teams started off three up, three down in the first inning and left one runner on base in the second, however, Avila was able to strike first with a run in the bottom of the third innings with a single right center from Ka'Zem Wood to bring Laila Rueda in for the score.

The Eagles added another run with a one-run homer from Stephanie Hayes in the bottom of the third and a run scored by Wood in the bottom of the sixth with a sacrifice bunt from Hayes putting Avila up 3-0.

Sterling battled back in the top of the seventh with a double from Kassedy Midgley with a double to left field to bring home Mallory Seidel and Aiyana Campos. But the Lady Warriors ran out of steam and ultimately lost 3-2.

MacKenzie Viehland started from the center circle for Sterling. She pitched five and one-third innings, giving up five hits which resulted in three runs, walking one batter while striking out five. Maria Casillas came in as relief. She finished the two-thirds of the innings with zero hits, runs, walks or strikeouts.

Game 2

Sterling bounced back in the second game against Tabor College coming away with a 4-0 shutout despite a game suspension.

The game began on Wednesday, April 30 but was suspended in the top of the sixth due to lightning with the Lady Warriors up 3-0 with two outs and runners on second and third. The game was picked back up on Thursday, May 1 when Sterling finished things out with a 4-0 win.

Bryley Westfahl got things started for the Lady Warriors in the top of the first, getting walked to make it on base and then working her way around the basepath to capitalize on a wild pitch. Desiree Perales followed it up with a homer to left field for the one run score to put Sterling up 2-0.

Madilynn Green extended Sterling lead with a single to left field to bring home Campos for the run in the top of the sixth just before lightning struck.

On the second day of play, Perales singled to right field to bring home Kelly Hirlas in the top of the seventh propel Sterling to the 4-0 victory.

Allie Olivarria started off the game from the center circle for the Lady Warriors. She pitched five innings, facing 22 batters, surrendering four hits which resulted in zero runs and walking two batters. Viehland came in for the final two innings on day two to get the save. She faced nine batters, giving up one hit which resulted in zero runs while striking out two.

Perales led the Sterling with two RBIs while Hirlas, Seidel and Green each recorded a stolen base. Westfahl and Seidel also combined for a double play in the bottom of the third.

Game 3

The Lady Warrior's KCAC Tournament run ended in their third game against Ottawa University, in a 6-3 loss.

Sterling went swing for swing with Ottawa, with each team recording 10 hits. The tell-tale desparity in team stats was the Lady Warrior's three errors as compared to zero errors from the Braves. 

The Braves got out to a quick start with a one-run homer from leadoff batter Kara Hafenstin in the bottom of the first.

Ottawa broke it open in the bottom of the second turning five hits into five runs and capitalizing on two errors by the Lady Warriors and taking a 6-0 lead.

Sterling didn't go away quietly and put together a big fifth inning. Mariah Cunningham got things started with a triple to right center to bring Westfahl and Green home for two scores. Cunningham then took advantage of a wild pitch to make it home and cut the lead to 6-3.

The Lady Warriors then filled the bases in the top of the sixth with three hits but were unable to capitalize and were left scoreless and finished going three up, three down in the top of the seventh.

Olivarria started off from the center circle, pitching one and one-third innings. She faced 10 batters, surrendering six hits which resulted in six runs (four earned) while striking out one batter.

Viehland came in as relief facing 19 batters through four and two-third innings. She gave up four hits which resulted in zero runs, walking one batters and striking out two.

Sterling's season will continue in the NCCAA Softball Regional play. Location, game time and opponents are still being determined.

Be sure to check for news and updates on Sterling Warrior Athletics on Facebook (/SCWarriors), Twitter (@SterlingCSports), and Instagram (sterlingcsports), as well as the hashtag #swordsup. Watch all of the Warriors' live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network.