Canaan and the Warriors Get One of Three from Saint Mary

Sterling, Kan. – The Warriors took on the University of Saint Mary Spires in a series that featured two evenly matched teams. Sterling came into the series with the better record, but USM was not far behind. Sterling ended up losing game one 8-4, took game two 8-4, and just missed the series win in game three with a 4-3 loss.

Game 1 – Sterling 4, USM 8

Saint Mary took advantage of some walks alongside to untimely errors by the Warriors to put up six runs in the third inning. That proved to be the difference in the game. Sterling put together two runs in the bottom half of the third on an RBI single by Dustin Chartrand, Andrew Dutro knocked in the second run on a ground out to the shortstop. Sterling got one more run on a towering homerun by Nate Heffline. Sterling held firm defensively before giving up two more runs in the sixth inning. The Warriors plated one more run on a sacrifice fly from Chartrand.

Luis Morales and James Easter each had three hits in the opening game of the weekend series. Two of Morales' hits went for extra bases. Joseph Almanza was the only other Warrior to have a multi-hit game going 2 for 4 at the plate. Chartrand is credited with knocking in two runs for Sterling and Heffline and Dutro producing the others.

Game 2 – Sterling 8, USM 4

The tables were turned in game two of the weekend with Sterling flopping the score. USM scored the first four runs of the game in the first four innings, but Sterling came up big with eight unanswered runs. Sterling scored three runs on back-to-back singles and a double by Albert Bisono, Austin Santiago, and James Easter. Trailing 4-3, they answered with two more in the fifth. Dutro took advantage of a one out walk to Morales and he put the ball over the fence for a two-run blast, giving Sterling their first lead. Sterling piled on three more runs with back-to-back RBI doubles by Almanza and Nicholas Keller that were followed up with an RBI single by Santiago.

Trenton Canaan went the distance on the mound. He spread out 10 hits in his nine innings of work. He struck out six and walked four and gave up just four runs. He has now won four games this season. Keller and Santiago each had two hits to lead the Warriors. Dutro and Santiago each added two RBIs apiece while Dutro scored three runs. Patience at the plate led to eight walks earned by the Warrior hitters as well.

Game 3 – Sterling 3, USM 4

The third game was a lower scoring affair ending in a one-run Warrior loss. Sterling got on the board first scoring two runs in the third inning. With two runners on and nobody out, Chartrand put down a sac bunt, but the ball ended up down the right field line on the throw and Chartrand reached safely and allowed James Easter to score from second base. Later in the inning, Dutro grounded out to second, but a run came around to score, a run that would not have happened had the error not occurred. After giving up two runs in the fourth, Sterling's Keller started things off with a leadoff double. He was later knocked in on a single up the middle by Santiago. That is where the score stayed until USM got a pair of runs in the sixth to take their first lead of the game. Sterling could not find a way to get another run across and ended up with a 4-3 loss.

Keller paced Sterling with three hits and Tyler Gates had two. Dutro and Santiago each knocked in a run, and Gates, Keller, and Easter each came around to score. David Lira started the game on the mound and went just over five innings before getting knocked out of the ballgame having given up all four runs, but not before striking out four Spire batters. He also took the loss. Chartrand came into the game to finish things off.

Having lost two of three, Sterling falls to 19-25 and 13-20 in the KCAC. They take on a nonconference opponent Tuesday afternoon in Sterling at 3 pm. They face the Oklahoma City University Stars. Friday and Saturday they will close out the regular season with three games against McPherson College. With the losses to Saint Mary, Sterling is no longer statistically able to make the KCAC postseason tournament.

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.