Lady Warriors open up conference play against Kansas Wesleyan

Lady Warrior softball opened up conference play against Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kan. on March 11. Sterling played a tight two games but ultimately lost both.

Game 1

Sterling lost to the Coyotes 5-2 in the first game.

The Lady Warriors were the first to score with a sacrifice fly from Desiree Perales that brough Mariah Cunningham home in the top of the first innings.

Kansas Wesleyan answered back in the bottom of the second with three scores of their own coming from a fielding error from Perales that the Coyotes used to bring home Briannah Kutschkau and Jenna Soule.

Sterling tried to battle back in the top of the fifth as Sam Graham singled to left center to bring Pheobe Waller home to make the score 3-2 in favor of the Coyote.

However, the Coyotes answered back quickly with in the bottom of the fifth, with Brooklyn Lange taking advantage of a wild pitch to get a run and Trenity Miller capitalizing on an error by the Lady Warrior's short top, Graham, to put the game out of reach 5-2.

MacKenzie Viehland was on the mound for the Lady Warriors in all six innings. Facing 29 pitchers, she threw 69 strikes on 110 pitches. Viehland surrendered seven hits which resulted in five runs (three unearned) while walking two batters and striking out two.

Game 2

In the second game, Sterling led through six and a half innings, but was unable to hold onto the lead as they fell, 3-2 to Kansas Wesleyan.

This defensive battle left both teams scoreless until the fourth inning. The Lady Warriors struck first in the top, with a double to center field from Madilynn Green to bring home Waller. Green then scored on an error later in the evening.

The Coyotes responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth as Miller homered to right field for a single RBI.

The following innings remained quiet until the bottom of the seventh inning when Kansas Wesleyan came through with two runs to end the game. Lange singled to center to advance J Buhr home, and Miller grounded out to second base which brought Lange in for the final score.

Graham led the Lady Warriors in hits with two while Green recorded Sterling's own RBI. Cunningham led the Warriors in stolen bases with two.

Allie Olivarria started things off from the mound for Sterling. She faced 28 batters, throwing 43 strikes on 73 pitches through six and one third innings. Olivarria surrendered six hits which resulted in three runs (two earned) while walking three batters and striking out three.

The Lady Warriors will be back in action against St. Mary in a doubleheader on Saturday, March 15 at home.

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.