Lady Warriors Sweep Tigers with Walkoff Victory

Sterling, Kan. – The Lady Warriors had split both of their series coming into this nonconference set with the Central Christian College Tigers. They were looking for a different outcome and that is exactly what they earned. Sterling took home a pair of wins, one dominant, and one in walkoff fashion.

Game 1: Sterling 7, Central Christian 2

Sterling got on the board first and never looked back. They scored one run in the second inning and two more in the fourth. The big inning was the fifth when back-to-back-to-back walks loaded the bases with one out and Alyssa Mason cleared them all with a big 3 RBI double to left field. Madilynn Green knocked one more run in in the inning and it was 7-0 Sterling. Central Christian added one run in each of the sixth and seventh innings to make the final score 7-2.

Mason was the only player with more than one hit and led the team with her 3 RBIs that broke the game open. Alexxis Thompson added two more RBIs. Allie Olivarria earned the complete game win pitching all 7 innings and giving up 2 runs, only one earned, on 6 hits while striking out 5 batters.

Game 2: Sterling 9, Central Christian 8

Game two was much more interesting and exciting with several lead changes and many big innings. Sterling got on the scoreboard first scoring 3 runs in the bottom of the first. Kayla Voss, the Central Christian pitcher, had not given up an earned run yet this season. However, that didn't change as none of the first inning runs were earned.

Central fired right back in the top of the third scoring 5 runs in the top of the second to take the lead. Although not immediate, Sterling reclaimed the lead after another 3 run inning in the third, these were the first earned runs given up this season by Voss. After the first two runners got on to start the fourth inning, Olivarria came back and immediately pitched three straight popups to get out of the inning.

Fielding mishaps handcuffed the Warriors in the top of the fifth inning and allowed the Tigers to take the lead once again. Three more runs came across to score making the score 8-6. Sterling plated one more in the sixth after a leadoff double by Madilynn Green. Esperanza Ammerman came in to run for her and quickly stole third and was knocked in by Alexis Hillhouse. Sterling still trailed by a run heading into the bottom of the seventh. Sara Lynch came in in the sixth and continued in the seventh.

Desiree Perales led off with a single and took second when the ball was misplayed in center field. Aiyana Campos punched a ball down the right field line and a great read by Perales allowed her to score without a slide and the game was tied. Campos advanced to second on the throw home. Sam Graham came in to run for Campos and was advanced to third when Mason had a productive at bat and hit the ball to the right side to advance the runner, the second time she had done that in the game. Thompson came through once again with a big walkoff hit to left center field and scored Graham from third. The hit would have likely fallen for extra bases had it not been a walkoff. Sterling came back twice to win in walkoff fashion and sweep the Tigers for their first of the season.

Perales and Campos each had two hits. Campos also added the 3 RBIs. Perales scored three times and Campos twice. Mason got the start and pitched three innings. Olivarria came in in relief after earning the game 1 one and earned her second win of the day. She pitched 4 innings and gave up 3 runs on just 2 hits.

Sterling improves to 4-2 this season. They travel to the Dallas area this weekend to play two more series on Friday and Saturday. Friday they take on Howard Payne for two games and Saturday they play the University of Dallas for two games.

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.