Softball Recovers for Split at Bethany

Lindsborg, Kan. – After taking a tough 14-0 loss in game one, Sterling Softball fought back and held on for a 10-8 win to earn the split.

Game 1 – Sterling 0, Bethany 14

Bethany scored six runs in the first inning all with two outs. The Swede hitter reached on an error and then the next two batters were struck out by pitcher Alyssa Mason. The next seven batters reached base safely, four by hits, two by walks and one hit batter. Sterling had two more errors in the bottom of the second that allowed eight more runs to come across the plate. Bethany had seven hits in the second inning to help score the runs. Neither team scored a run after Bethany came out blazing in game one.

Mason took the loss.  She pitched an inning and a third and gave up just four earned runs, eleven unearned. She struck out two, walked three, and gave up seven hits. Sterling had just two hits in the contest. Desiree Perales had a single to center in the first, and Kelly Hirlas singles to center in the fourth. Madilynn Green reached twice on error, but wasn't able to find her way around to score.

Game 2 – Sterling 10, Bethany 8

Game two was drastically different. The Lady Warriors once again regained their focus and stood behind the arm of Allie Olivarria. In the first inning, Sterling had a two-out rally scoring two runs on four hits before the inning came to a close. Green and Hirlas each had RBI singles. They scored another run in the second on a SAC bunt by Phoebi Waller that ended in a throwing error by the second baseman allowing Alexis Hillhouse to come around to score.

Sterling scored three more in the fourth on back-to-back homeruns by Cheyenne Cunningham and Mason, giving Sterling a 6-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth. Bethany was not deterred as they answered with three runs of their own in the fourth. Two more Warrior runs came across in the top of the sixth, again in the form of a two out rally. Cunningham took a two-out walk and Mason followed it up with a  single down the right field line. Perales then hit a single down the left field line scoring both runners and Sterling was up 8-3. Bethany once again answered with a three-run inning making the tally 8-6 heading into the seventh.

Sterling scored two, much needed, security runs in the seventh. Waller and Cunningham each knocked in a run giving Sterling a four-run lead. Down to their last out, Bethany had four straight runners reach base safely and two of them scored making the score 10-8 before Olivarria ended the game with a strikeout, her seventh of the game.

Seven Warriors has base hits, six of them had two or more. Desiree Perales led the way for Sterling with three hits and Cheyenne Cunningham had three RBIs. Sterling had fourteen hits as a team in game 2. Olivarria picked up her 14^th win of the season keeping her atop the KCAC wins list.

After the split, Sterling is 19-15 and holding on to eighth place in the KCA at 7-7. Sterling will have opportunity to move up in the standings over the next several weeks as the regular season starts to wind down.

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.