STERLING, Kan. (SCWarriors.com) – Sterling College softball’s team season came to a close in the NCCAA World Series on Wednesday, May 21 with a loss to Mid-America Christian University in the semi-final game. The Lady Warrior’s first loss in the World Series came against NCAA DII’s Jessup University on Tuesday, May 20.
Game 1 (BOX SCORE)
Sterling’s game against Jessup proved to be a defensive battle that the Lady Warriors lost 3-2 in extra innings.
The game started with both teams going three up, three down in the first and the fourth inning and was scoreless through four innings.
The Lady Warriors struck first in the top of the fifth inning with an RBI single to left field from Phoebi Waller to bring home Mallory Seidel. Mariah Cunningham returned the favor with an RBI double to left field to bring in Waller for the score and put Sterling on top 2-0.
Jessup responded with a single up the middle from Reagann Hoblit to bring home Maddy Ybarra in the bottom of the sixth to close the gap, 2-1.
They knotted up the game at two in the bottom of the seventh inning with a single to left field from Emma Gaytan to being home Malia Ishii to force extra innings.
Sterling was unable to capitalize in the top of the eighth and Jessup came out of the bottom of the eighth with a walk-off sacrifice fly from Kylie Nunes to bring home Sarah Giles for the score and give Jessup the 3-2 win.
MacKenzie Viehland started things off from the center circle for the Lady Warriors. She pitched five and two-third innings, facing 23 batters, surrendering two hits which resulted in one run, walking three batters while striking out five.
Allie Olivarria came is as relief and pitched the remaining one and one and two-third innings. The hurler faced 10 batters, surrendering four hits which resulted in two runs, walking one batter while striking out one.
Seidel led the Lady Warriors in hits with three. Seidel and Kelly Hirlas each recorded a stolen base.
Game 2 (BOX SCORE)
Both Sterling and Mid-America Christian struggled to get anything going in the semi-final game of the NCCAA World Series, with Mid-America scoring the only run of the game in the top of the seventh inning.
The Evangels run came off of a single up the middle from Heidi Noisey to bring in Gia Reynosa for the score.
Cunningham, Hirlas and Waller each recorded one hit for the Lady Warrior but Sterling was unable to string anything together to get on the board.
Viehland pitched all seven innings for the Lady Warriors. The hurler faced 28 batters, surrendering five hits which resulted in one unearned run, she walked zero batters and struck out eight.
With the loss bring the conclusion of the Lady Warrior’s softball season. Sterling ended the season 37-19, going 19-8 in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference and took care of business at home with a record of 20-5 on their home field.
“I’m incredibly proud of this team and everything we accomplished this season,” head coach Taylor Lira said. “Reaching the Final Four of the NCCAA World Series and competing in such close, hard-fought games speaks to the grit and heart of this group. Our seniors led with strength and character, setting a solid foundation for the future of this program. While it’s tough to see the season end, I’m tuly excited about where we’re headed and what lies ahead.”
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 all of the Warriors’ live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network.
