Baseball Loses Series for First Time This Season

Sterling, Kan. – The Sterling baseball team had not lost a series all season and had not lost a game at home yet this season. That all changed when the Bethany College Swedes took two out of three from the Warriors.

Game 1 – Sterling 14, Bethany 1

The series started out just as you would expect with a team that was 7-2 taking on a team that was 1-10 coming into the day. Sterling ran away with a 14-1 win after a superb pitching outing from David Lira. Lira went 6 innings striking out 8 batters and giving up just 1 after spreading out 8 hits. The Warriors had four players with multi-hit games, led by Tyler Gates with a 3-4 performance at the plate. Nicholas Keller, Andrew Mason, and Albert Bisono each had two hits apiece.

Gates, Mason, and Eduardo Tarafa each knocked in two runs and Gates and James Easter scored three runs each. On the bases, Gates, Bisono, and Dustin Chartrand each stole a base.

Game 2 – Sterling 5, Bethany 10

Game two was drastically different. Statistically, the Swede pitching staff should not have been as dominant as it was, but Willian Figueroa-Soto brought his best as he pitched over 6 innings for the Swedes and struck out 9 Warriors. At times he seemed unhittable to Warrior batters.

Those who were hitting him seemed to hit him well. Tarafa was 3 for 3 with 3 runs scored, Luis Morales was 2 for 3 with 4 RBIs, Gates and Nate Heffline each had two hits as well. No other player in the lineup was able to muster a hit. Two of Tarafa's and one of Morales' hits went for doubles, but it was not quite enough as Sterling took a 5 run loss.

Cipriano Rivera got the start and took the loss allowing 8 runs. Tyler Duffey did his best in relief going four and a third innings striking out 7 and allowing 2 runs. Saving the bullpen in what was a 7 run game at the time, Heffline came in in relief for Sterling.

Game 3 – Sterling 10, Bethany 13

Sterling was much better in game three except for giving up big innings. Bethany scored twelve of their thirteen runs in just two innings of play. Morales had a four-hit game and knocked in 2 runs while scoring two more of his own. Keller, Tarafa, Ryan Speer, and Austin Santiago each had two hits with Tarafa adding 3 RBIs.

Andrew Mason got the start and gave up 8 runs over four innings. He struck out four and walked four as well. Trent Canaan got another inning of work and gave up 4 runs, by far his least impressive outing of the season. Canaan took the loss.  

Sterling is now 8-4 (4-2) this season and returns to action for another 9 inning, nonconference game against Central Christian College. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.

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 the Warriors' live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network.