Warriors Just Miss On Opportunity Against (17) OKWU

Sterling, Kan. – Sterling Baseball put on a good show against one of the top teams in the country this weekend. They took an extra innings loss in the first game of the series, gave up a number of runs late in the game in the second game of the series, and had one rough inning in the third game. All of these things added up to three losses for the Warriors.

Game 1 – Sterling 10, OKWU 13 – 10 Innings

In a game that looked like it was going to get out of hand, a huge eighth-inning rally for the Warriors got them back in the game and actually gave them the lead heading into the top of the ninth. OKWU scored one run in the first, Sterling answered with a run in the second. The Eagles scored six more in the third and added another run in the fifth and eighth innings. Trailing 9-1 in the bottom of the eighth, Sterling scored 9 nine runs, bookended by a grand slam by Andrew Dutro to get the scoring started and finished off with a three-run homerun by Luis Morales to take a one run lead into the ninth inning.

Down to their last out, OKWU hit a two out homerun to tie the game in the top of the ninth off of the arm of Trent Canaan. Sterling was unable to score in the ninth, gave up three runs in the tenth, and again went scoreless in the tenth, giving Sterling the 13-10 loss.

Albert Bisono had the hot bat in the game going 3 for 4 at the plate, but it was the big flies from Dutro and Morales that really made the difference for the Warriors. Andrew Mason started for the Warriors and lasted just two and two thirds innings. Trent Canaan relieved Mason and was eligible for the win until he gave up the solo homerun in the ninth inning that pushed the game into extra innings. Nate Heffline took the loss giving up the three runs in the tenth inning.

Game 2 – Sterling 6, OKWU 11

OKWU got things started scoring 5 runs in the top of the first, which included a grand slam to open the scoring. Sterling's answer was nearly just as impressive coming right back to score 4 of their own runs. Dustin Chartrand had an RBI single and the inning was capped off by a Nicholas Keller 3-run homerun. The score stayed 5-4 until the fifth inning when Sterling added a run to tie things up at 5. OKWU scored one in the sixth and four more in the seventh recapturing a five-run lead. Each team added one more run making the final score 11-6 in favor of the Eagles.

Dustin Chartrand had three of Sterling's eight hits and Luis Morales added two more. Keller knocked in three of the Warrior's six runs. Cipriano Rivera was the game two starter but recorded just one out before being replaced by Sterling's most consistent middle reliever, Tyler Duffey. Duffey pitched five and two thirds innings to get to the sixth inning and gets credit for the loss after Sterling tied the game in the middle innings.

Game 3 – Sterling 0, OKWU 6

Sterling's offense was spent by the time they got to game three. The Warriors were one-hit by Kellen Brothers. Keller was the lone Warrior to get a hit and broke up the no-hitter with a leadoff double in the 7^th inning.

Chartrand got the start and pitched three scoreless innings before giving up five runs in the fourth. That turned out to be the difference in the game. Caleb Morgan and Kimo Kawelo pitched in relief for the Warriors.

Sterling falls 12-16 overall this season and is now 6-11 in KCAC play after playing the top team in the KCAC. They will travel to Southwestern College on Tuesday for the final game of that season series and then head south to Friends University for a Friday/Saturday three game set.

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