Warriors Take 1 of 3 from (RV) Tabor

Hillsboro, Kan. ­– Warrior baseball scored 36 runs in three games and came away with one win against the (RV) Tabor College Bluejays. The balls were flying in Hillsboro for two days of games as Sterling continues to try to make a splash in the KCAC. Sterling dropped the first to games of the series, 5-2 and 22-21, before turning around in the third game, winning 13-10, avoiding getting swept in the season series.

Game 1 – Sterling 2, (RV) Tabor 5

Seven different Warriors had a hit in Friday's game one of the series. Andrew Dutro led the way with two of them. Tabor got things going  with two runs in the first and Sterling answered with two runs in the fifth before a three-run eighth put things away for the Bluejays.

Dustin Chartrand and Luis Morales knocked in Sterling's two runs. Dutro and Nate Heffline had doubles for Sterling but it wasn't enough. David Lira took the loss for Sterling giving up for of the five runs in the game.

Game 2 – Sterling 21, (RV) Tabor 22

The ball was flying in game two with a combined 43 runs scored and 33 hits in the game. The Warriors runs came in clumps with eight runs in the third, one in the fifth, four more in the sixth, seven in the eighth, and one more in the ninth. Tabor's run scoring was much more consistent scoring in every inning except the second and several times scoring three or four runs. Sterling still had a chance to tie the game in the top of the ninth leaving the bases loaded after scoring one run, but fell one hit short of extending the game.

Nicholas Keller was the hot bat in the game. He was 3 for 5 with 7 RBIs, four of them off one swing of the bat with a grand slam in the 8-run third inning. Morales also had 3 hits and knocked in three runs and was one of four Warriors to score three runs as well. Dutro, Keller, and Albert Bisono added to their homerun totals in the game. Dutro's was in the comeback 8^th inning that at the time brought the score back to just one run.

Tyler Duffey took the loss after Andrew Mason made the start and gave up 7 runs.

Game 3 – Sterling 13, (RV) Tabor 10

Sterling came back from a 10-4 deficit by scoring 5 runs in the fifth and 4 more in the seventh to steal a win from Tabor in the series. Extra base hits seemed easy to come by as eight of Sterling's 12 hits were for extra bases; three homeruns and five doubles.

Dutro continued hitting the ball well, building off his game two success. He added two more homeruns, making it three on the day, and adding four more RBIs to his season total. Morales accounted for the other homerun and three more RBIs. Sterling was patient at the plate accumulating 10 walks.

Sterling went pitcher by committee with Cipriano Rivera getting the start as he pitched two innings and allowed 8 runs. Trenton Canaan came on in relief and gave up two runs over two innings. Nate Heffline, Sterling's starting first baseman, earned the win with three innings of work while not allowing a run.

The Warriors record this season is 11-13 overall with a 5-8 KCAC record. Sterling currently sits in ninth place in the KCAC standings with a lot of season left to play. The season continues Tuesday afternoon with the second game of the season against the Southwestern College Moundbuilders. They will be looking to make up some ground against the top tier teams in the conference.

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.