Graceland Softball Drops Two at Sterling College
STERLING, Kan. – The Graceland University Yellowjackets struggled to find momentum in their road doubleheader against Sterling College on Tuesday, falling 5-4 in extra innings in Game 1 before dropping a 14-0 decision in Game 2. With the losses, the Yellowjackets fall to 6-9 on the season, while Sterling improves to 9-6.
Game 1: Sterling 5, Graceland 4 (8 Innings)
Graceland battled in a tightly contested opener but could not hold off a late Sterling rally in extra innings.
The Yellowjackets struck first in the opening frame when C. Peters reached on an error and later scored on a groundout by A. Farrell. Sterling responded in the second, tying the game on a wild pitch before taking a 2-1 lead on an RBI triple from S. Graham.
Both teams remained scoreless until the sixth, when S. Bradshaw delivered a clutch RBI double to bring home C. Peters and tie the game at 2-2. Neither team scored in the seventh, sending the game to extra innings.
Graceland capitalized on defensive miscues in the eighth, scoring two runs on consecutive errors by Sterling's infield, with B. Glasgow picking up an RBI to put the Yellowjackets ahead 4-2. However, Sterling answered with a run-scoring double from K. Hirlas before M. Seidel hit a walk-off, two-run home run to give the Warriors a 5-4 victory.
Stat Leaders (Game 1):
- Hitting: S. Bradshaw – 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 1 double
- Pitching: S. Bradshaw (L, 0-1) – 7.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R (4 ER), 15 K
- Fielding: Graceland committed three errors, leading to unearned runs
Game 2: Sterling 14, Graceland 0 (5 Innings)
Sterling dominated the second game from start to finish, scoring 10 runs in the first inning and cruising to a run-rule victory in five innings.
The Warriors jumped on P. Pialet (0-1) early, stringing together six hits and five walks to plate 10 runs in the opening frame. Graceland struggled defensively, committing two errors that extended the inning and allowed additional runs to score.
Sterling added three more runs in the third on a two-run single from M. Dunn and an RBI single by A. Martinez, pushing the lead to 14-0.
Graceland's offense was held in check by Sterling's A. Olivarria (1-0), who tossed a three-hit shutout with six strikeouts over five innings. The Yellowjackets' only hits came from K. Vandemark, M. McKinney, and E. Hernandez, but they were unable to advance runners into scoring position.
Stat Leaders (Game 2):
- Hitting: K. Vandemark – 1-for-2
- Pitching: P. Pialet (L, 0-1) – 4.0 IP, 13 H, 14 R (7 ER), 5 BB, 1 K
Coach's Comments
Head coach Todd Verwers acknowledged the challenges of the day and emphasized the need for improvement.
"We didn't do enough to win today. We weren't sharp defensively, and we gave away too many free bases. Against good teams, that will cost you. Offensively, we have to find a way to put together better at-bats and apply more pressure. We'll regroup and get back to work as we prepare for a tough stretch ahead, starting with our home doubleheader against Sterling before heading to Branson this weekend."
Up Next
Graceland will look to bounce back when it faces Sterling College again on Wednesday before traveling to Branson, Mo., for the Branson Grand Slam Classic this Friday.
For more information on Graceland softball and all of Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.