Warriors End on Good Note at Friends Invitational

Wichita, Kan. – The Lady Warriors played four games at the Friends University Invitational tournament in Wichita. After a rocky start, the Warriors played a pair of one-run games before taking control in the final game of the tournament. Sterling ended 1-3 in the two days of play.

Game 1 – Sterling 9, Baker 17

Baker scored in each of the seven innings played against Sterling, making the Warriors play catch-up all morning. The closest Sterling could get was 7-4 after the third inning before Baker blew the game wide open in the late innings. They eventually took a 17-9 loss.

Cheyenne Cunningham went 3 for 4 in the first game of the weekend tournament, scoring a run and knocking a run in as well. Desiree Perales and Madilynn Green each had 2 hits as well. Cunningham and Kelly Hirlas each had a double in the game, and Hirlas led the Warriors with 2 RBIs.

Alyssa Mason took the loss pitching four and two-thirds innings, giving up 9 runs on 6 hits while striking out 2. MacKenzie Viehland pitched seven outs in relief and gave up 8 runs on 7 hits and struck out 1. Sterling was credited with 4 errors on the day, so 12 of the 17 runs were earned runs.

Game 2 – Sterling 6, Peru State 7

The Warriors outhit their opponent, Peru State, in the second game on Saturday but still took the 7-6 loss. Half of those hits came from Mason and Cunningham. Mason was a perfect 4 for 4 at the plate while Cunningham put in another 3 for 4 performance, giving her 6 hits in the two games. Sam Graham went 2 for 4, accounting for all of Sterling's extra base hits with a double and a HR. Graham led Sterling with 2 RBIs.

Allie Olivarria started the second game of the day and she is credited for all 7 runs. She pitched six and a third innings and left the field with the bases loaded and a 6-5 lead. Viehland came in in relief and gave up a two-run double that gave Peru State the win. Both runs were credited to Olivarria. Viehland did not record an out.

Game 3 – Sterling 3, MNU 4

Sterling went toe-to-toe with MidAmerica Nazarene although only recording 3 hits in the game. They matched MNU's one run in the first and both runs in the fourth, but could not muster anymore offense after the fourth. MNU scratched across one more run in the sixth and Sterling did not have an answer. Sterling took advantage of their baserunners, including a big triple by Mason that scored a run. Sterling fell for the third time in the tournament, 4-3.

Mason pitched well but took the loss, going all seven innings giving up four runs on ten hits. She struck out seven and walked just three. The three hits belong to Mason, Cunningham, and Green and the three RBIs went to Aiyana Campos, Mason, and Green.

Game 4 – Sterling 10, Concordia (Neb.) 4

Sterling finally broke out on offense scoring ten runs against the Concordia Bulldogs, earning their only win of the weekend. Sterling scored in every inning except the sixth. They cruised to a 10-4 win to close out the weekend on an high note.

Perales led the way for Sterling going 3 for 4 with 5 RBIs. Alexis Hillhouse, Mallory Seidel, and Campos each had two hits in the game. Sam Graham knocked in two runs as well for the Lady Warriors. A number of Warriors had extra base hits including a HR by Perales, a triple by Hillhouse, and doubles by Perales and Campos.

Allie Olivarria earned the win going all seven innings giving up four runs on nine hits. She also had three strikeouts.

Sterling is now 9-7 this season and has one more week on nonconference play before starting the KCAC season on March 12^th.

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