Hillhouse, Warriors End Senior Day with Walk Off Win

Sterling, Kan. – Lady Warrior softball celebrated their seniors on Saturday by closing out the day with a double header split and a walkoff win over Oklahoma Wesleyan University. After giving up three late runs in the first game leading to a 6-4 loss, Sterling put themselves in position for a game two, 4-3 win. The story could not have been written any better with senior, Alexis Hillhouse, knocking in the winning run the bottom of the seventh inning.

Game 1 – Sterling 4, OKWU 6

Sterling had a great opportunity in game one to pull of an upset win over the Eagles, but fell just short. OKWU scored the first run of the game and Sterling answered with a run in the same inning. Desiree Perales scored Phoebi Waller on a single to left field. The Warriors took a two run lead in the fourth inning on back-to-back doubles by Madilynn Green and Kelly Hirlas. Hirlas' double knocked Green in and after advancing on a wild pitch, Hirlas was able to score on a groundout by Alyssa Mason. OKWU tied the game at three in the top of the fifth inning. They backed the Warriors into a corner when they scored three more runs in the sixth giving them a 6-3 lead. Sterling mustered one run in the bottom of the sixth, once again on a Mason groundout, but that was it for the Warrior's offense. Sterling lost to the Eagles, 6-4.

Green, Hirlas, and Waller each had two base hits with the Warriors having ten as a team. Mason's two groundouts led to two RBIs, Hirlas and Perales had the other two. Mason was the pitcher of record as well, going all seven innings. She gave up six runs, but only four were earned. She also struck out five and walked four.

Game 2 – Sterling 4, OKWU 3

Sterling jumped out early in game two and held on just enough late to get the win in the bottom of the seventh. The Warriors scored twice in the first. Cheyenne Cunningham led the game off with a single up the middle before promptly stealing second. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Perales and Aiyana Campos scored both Cunningham and Perales. Sterling played small-ball for a run in the fourth after a leadoff walk to Hirlas. She was moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rozzalin Mendoza and scored on an Alexxis Thompson groundout. Sterling was up 3-0 and in control until the top of the seventh. Needing just three outs to get a shutout win, the OKWU bats came alive. They tied the game up after scoring three in the top of the seventh. The momentum for the Eagles was short-lived when Cunningham came started the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff triple. Immediately following, senior, Alexis Hillhouse, singled up the middle to score Cunningham and walk off the Eagles. It was a fitting ending for a senior to close the books on Senior Day.

Cunningham ended the day with three of Sterling's seven hits and scored two of the four Warrior runs. She also had two stolen bases. Three RBIs were split between Hillhouse, Perales, and Campos. Allie Olivarria got the complete game win giving up 3 runs on ten hits. She did not walk a single Eagle batter and struck out seven. The win gives her a career high 15 wins with one more start coming.

With two games remaining, Sterling is 20-24 and 8-16 in KCAC play. They play two games against York University on Tuesday afternoon to finish out their season.

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.