STERLING, Kan. — Sterling College swept McPherson College on Wednesday, March 18 with a narrow 5-4 win in extra innings in game one and a 16-6 run-rule win in game two.
Game 1
Sterling faced McPherson in a tightly contested game. McPherson scored first in the fourth inning when Samantha Hollingsworth stole home, putting McPherson up 1–0. The score remained 1–0 after four innings.
In the fifth, Sterling responded. Maria Casillas walked and proceeded to second on a groundout. Kylie Dunbar then doubled down the left field line, driving in Casillas to tie the game at 1–1 after five innings.
The eighth inning saw both teams adding to their totals. McPherson scored twice, with Savannah Robles doubling to bring in one run, followed by another groundout RBI. Sterling answered with two runs of its own. Cheyenne Cunningham reached on an error, advanced, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Mallory Seidel. Mariah Cunningham brought C. Cunningham home with another sacrifice fly, leveling the score at 3–3 after eight innings.
In the ninth, McPherson regained the lead with an RBI single by Landri Lopez. The Warriors, however, secured the victory with decisive plays. Ashley Johnson bunted to bring in Alessandra Ambriz, followed by Bailey Martinez‘s single to drive in the winning run. Sterling edged McPherson 5–4 in the final score.
Macaela Ambriz delivered a complete game performance, pitching all 9 innings for Sterling against McPherson. Ambriz allowed seven hits and two earned runs while striking out six batters. She displayed control with only two walks.
Cheyenne Cunningham stole three bases, demonstrating her speed on the field. Kylie Dunbar made a notable offensive contribution with a double, scoring one run and driving in another. Bailey Martinez added to the team’s scoring with one hit and one RBI.
Game 2
Sterling secured a decisive victory over the Bulldogs, 16–6, in game two. The first inning saw Sterling take control early with a strong offensive start. C. Cunningham singled and stole second, setting the stage for Seidel and M. Cunningham to load the bases. A. Ambriz’s sacrifice fly scored C. Cunningham. Casillas delivered a three-run homer, bringing home Seidel and M. Cunningham, putting Sterling up 4–0 after one inning.
In the third inning, M. Cunningham singled and advanced to third on A. Ambriz’s double. Ashley Johnson‘s fielder’s choice allowed M. Cunningham to score, adding to Sterling’s lead. McPherson tied it at 5–5, but Sterling regained the lead 6–5 after three innings.
The fourth inning featured a standout play as C. Cunningham tripled to drive in Dunbar, extending the lead to 6–5. Sterling maintained momentum in the fifth, as Dunbar reached on an error, allowing another run to score, making it 7–5.
The Lady Warrior’s bats erupted in the sixth inning. Casillas singled in two runs, followed by Dunbar’s two-RBI single. Seidel and A. Ambriz each contributed with two-RBI hits. Sterling amassed nine runs in the inning, pushing its lead to 16–6.
Sterling’s dominant performance was solidified by Casillas, who not only contributed five RBIs but also secured the win on the mound, pitching a complete game. She allowed seven hits and issued just one walk, striking out three batters while securing the win. Casillas faced 27 batters, managing to limit McPherson to 5 earned runs.
Cheyenne Cunningham recorded two hits and scored two runs while also adding a triple and an RBI. Mallory Seidel contributed with two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs while scoring three times. Mariah Cunningham crossed the plate three times and drew two walks, showcasing her ability to get on base. Maria Casillas was a standout performer, delivering four hits, including a home run, and collecting five RBIs while also pitching a complete game.
Up next, Sterling (9-7, 4-2) will take on Southwestern (4-11, 0-5) in Winfield, Kan. in a doubleheader on Saturday with the games starting at 1 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.
