STERLING, Kan. – Sterling College opened up conference play in a series against York that took place Thursday and Friday, Feb. 12-13. The games were moved up due to impending weather. The Warriors lost all three to York but managed to battle back in the later innings to make the games competitive, losing the first game 12-6, the second 8-7 and the third 12-2.
Game 1
The Warriors faced the Panthers in a game marked by early momentum shifts. York took an initial lead in the first inning, scoring twice on a double by Sam Hodoly and a single by Marek Stone. Sterling responded in the second inning, as Emmanuel Huerta Cardenas hit a solo home run, and Imanol Ramos added a two-run homer, giving Sterling a 3-2 lead after two innings.
In the third inning, York capitalized on defensive errors by Sterling, plating six runs. Stone’s two-RBI single and Gio Tarin’s two-run homer were key hits in the frame, propelling the Panthers to an 8-3 lead after the third inning.
Sterling added a run in the fourth inning when Jason Smith doubled to bring home Ezavien Campos, narrowing the gap to 8-4. Sterling’s pitching and defense held York University scoreless through the fifth inning, with Colin Clark retiring the side in order in the fourth.
The Panthers extended their lead in the eighth inning. Landon Morgan’s two-RBI double was a highlight, pushing their advantage to 11-4. Sterling managed two runs in the ninth inning, with Isaac Barnett scoring on a sacrifice fly by Chuck Lang and Smith crossing the plate on Jackson Harding‘s RBI single.
The final score was York University 12, Sterling 6.
Sterling’s pitching staff faced challenges during the game against the Panthers. Jackson Califono started the game, pitching 2 innings and allowing five earned runs on five hits, with one strikeout and three hit batsmen, resulting in a WHIP of 3.00. Peyton Fletcher entered in relief and pitched 1 inning, giving up two runs on two hits, including a home run, while recording two strikeouts. Colin Clark provided a strong middle relief performance, throwing 4 2/3 innings and striking out six batters, conceding three earned runs on two hits and three walks, maintaining a WHIP of 1.19. Caden Fisk closed the game with 1 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits, including a home run, and striking out one batter.
Emmanuel Huerta Cardenas recorded a home run, his only hit in the game, while also scoring a run and driving in another. Imanol Ramos contributed with a home run as well, finishing with two RBIs and one run scored. Jason Smith added a double, collecting one RBI and scoring once in the process. Ezavien Campos managed to cross the plate twice, reaching base with a hit and a walk.
Game 2
Sterling opened the scoring in the first inning with a single from Harding, who was replaced by pinch runner Mitchel McDaniel. McDaniel displayed aggressive base running, advancing to third on a passed ball before scoring on a single by Cardenas, giving Sterling a 1-0 lead after the 1st.
In the third inning, Matteo Castro extended Sterling’s advantage by launching a solo in the park home run to right field. This marked a crucial moment as Sterling pushed its lead to 2-1 after the 3rd.
The Panthers managed to level the score in the fourth and take the lead with a run in the sixth, but Sterling responded in the seventh inning with Ramos hitting a home run to right field, tying the game at 3-3 after the 7th.
The ninth inning saw York rally with a five-run outburst, highlighted by Isaac Gomez’s two-RBI double and Jay Twedt’s RBI triple. The Panthers had a commanding lead, yet Sterling launched a comeback in the bottom of the inning. Nehemiah House doubled to start, and subsequent hits from Ramos and Castro, along with disciplined plate appearances, allowed Sterling to score four runs. However, York held on to win. The final score was Panthers 8, Sterling 7.
Jace Phillips pitched 6 innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits while striking out five batters and walking three. He threw a total of 87 pitches with 54 strikes, maintaining a WHIP of 1.00. Zachary “Ty” Johnston contributed 2 innings of scoreless relief, issuing two walks and allowing two hits while striking out two batters. Jack Trent faced challenges in his brief appearance, allowing two earned runs without recording an out. Erice Villa completed 1 inning, giving up two earned runs on three hits, including a double and a triple.
Imanol Ramos led the offense with a home run and two RBIs, finishing with two hits. Matteo Castro contributed significantly with two runs and a home run, tallying two RBIs. Jackson Harding collected two hits and added an RBI, providing consistent performance at the plate. Nehemiah House recorded a double and scored a run, showcasing his ability to get on base and advance.
Game 3
York University capitalized in game three on a strong start by scoring six runs in the first inning and adding three more in the second.
The Panthers opened the game with a strong offensive performance, scoring six runs in the first inning. A two-RBI double by Hodoly and a two-RBI double from Tarin contributed significantly to their early lead. Sterling responded with a run in their half of the inning, as Cardenas singled and scored on a groundout by Chuck Lang. The score was York 6, Sterling 1 after the first.
In the second inning, the Panthers added three more runs, increasing its lead to 9-1. A two-RBI single by Thomas Bonde played a key role in this inning. Sterling was unable to score in their half, keeping the score York 9, Sterling 1 after the second.
Sterling managed to add another run in the fourth inning. Harding doubled and scored on a single by Landon Volner. This cut the deficit slightly, bringing the score to York University 9, Sterling 2 after the fourth.
The Panthers extended their lead in the seventh inning with a three-run homer by Twedt, making the score 12-2. Sterling could not muster another comeback, leaving the final score at York 12, Sterling 2.
Tyreek Sherman started on the mound for Sterling, facing nine batters in 2/3 of an inning and allowing six earned runs on five hits, including two doubles, with two walks and one strikeout. Landon Snyder provided relief, pitching 5 1/3 innings with five strikeouts and only one walk, allowing two earned runs on six hits and two doubles, maintaining a WHIP of 1.37. Cooper Lovelace closed the game with one inning pitched, conceding three earned runs on two hits, including a home run, with one walk and two strikeouts.
Jackson Harding contributed with a double among his two hits and scored once. Joshua Garcia recorded two hits, maintaining an OPS of 1.000. Landon Volner added two hits and drove in one run.
Sterling (3-9) will be back in action on Tuesday, Feb. 17 in a non-conference game against Oklahoma City University (1-7) in Oklahoma City, Okla. with the first pitch to be thrown at 2 p.m.
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.
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