STERLING, Kan. — Sterling College swept Dakota State University in a three-game series on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27-28. The Warriors started the series with a 10-8 victory followed by a 6-0 shutout performance. On Saturday, Dakota State battled forcing extra innings but Sterling came away with the 11-10 walk-off win over the Trojans.
Game 1
Sterling secured a 10-8 victory over Dakota State on Friday, capitalizing on a four-run fourth inning to establish a lead it maintained through the end. The Trojans made a late push with four runs in the sixth inning, but it was not enough to overcome Sterling’s early advantage.
The Warriors opened the game strong in the first inning, scoring three runs. Chuck Lang doubled and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Jackson Harding walked, and Mitchel McDaniel, pinch running for Harding, advanced on Emmanuel Huerta Cardenas‘ triple to right field, bringing in both Lang and McDaniel. Cardenas later scored on a wild pitch, giving Sterling a 3-1 lead after one inning.
In the second inning, Sterling added another run. Joshua Garcia singled and later advanced to third on a fielder’s choice. Matthew Garcia grounded out to the pitcher, allowing Joshua Garcia to score. The game was tied at 4 after the Trojans responded with three runs in their half of the inning.
Cardenas continued his offensive contribution in the third inning with a double down the left field line. He later scored on J. Garcia’s single to shortstop, putting Sterling ahead 5-4 after three innings.
Sterling extended its lead in the fourth inning, capitalizing on an error and a hit-by-pitch. Lang walked, and McDaniel, a pinch runner, advanced to third on Cardenas’ reach on an error. Ezavien Campos was hit by a pitch, scoring Lang. J. Garcia then doubled to left center, clearing the bases and bringing in three runs. Sterling led 9-4 after four innings.
Dakota State narrowed the gap in the sixth inning, scoring four runs, but Sterling added one more in the bottom of the inning. Nehemiah House singled, and pinch runner Henry Green IV stole second before scoring on Imanol Ramos‘ single through the left side. Sterling maintained a 10-8 lead to secure the win.
Jace Phillips took the mound for Sterling, delivering 4 1/3 innings in which he struck out five batters while allowing seven hits and three earned runs. Despite issuing three walks and hitting one batter, Phillips managed to keep Dakota State scoreless in three of the five innings he pitched, achieving an impressive strike-to-pitch ratio with 54 strikes out of 87 pitches. Zachary “Ty” Johnston entered in relief, pitching 2/3 of an inning with one strikeout but struggled with control, issuing two walks and allowing two earned runs. Eric Villa closed out the game, pitching two innings and securing a save despite surrendering six hits and two earned runs, recording two strikeouts in the process.
Emmanuel Huerta Cardenas contributed significantly with three runs, two hits, and two RBIs, including a double and a triple. Joshua Garcia had a productive performance, recording three hits and four RBIs, highlighted by a double. Chuck Lang reached base frequently, scoring two runs and securing one hit with three walks. Mitchel McDaniel also crossed the plate twice, impacting the game as a pinch runner for Jackson Harding.
Game 2
Sterling secured another decisive 6-0 victory over Dakota State on Friday. Sterling’s pitching staff allowed only three hits and recorded six strikeouts over seven innings.
The Warriors opened strong in the first inning, scoring three runs. M. Garcia singled up the middle, and Lang was hit by a pitch. Harding doubled to left field, driving in M. Garcia. Cardenas grounded out but brought Lang home, and Campos walked. House’s single up the middle scored a pinch runner for Harding, giving Sterling a 3-0 lead after the first inning.
In the third inning, Sterling extended its lead. Campos and House drew walks before J. Garcia doubled to left field, scoring Campos. Ramos hit a sacrifice fly to center, allowing House to score, making it 5-0 Sterling through three innings.
The Warriors added another run in the fifth inning. J. Garcia singled to right, and Ramos doubled to right center, bringing J. Garcia home to increase the lead to 6-0 through five innings.
Sterling’s pitching and defense held Dakota State scoreless throughout the game, securing a 6-0 victory in seven innings.
Aaron Elsasser delivered a strong performance, pitching 3 innings without allowing a run. Elsasser faced 11 batters, conceding only two hits and striking out two, with a WHIP of 1.00. Landon Snyder took over and pitched 4 innings, yielding just one hit and striking out four while maintaining a WHIP of 0.50. Snyder’s efforts secured his third win of the season, bringing his record to 3-1.
Joshua Garcia delivered offensively, securing two hits, including a double, and driving in one run. Imanol Ramos contributed with a double and two RBIs. Nehemiah House effectively reached base with one hit and a walk, adding a run and an RBI to the scoreboard.
Game 3
Sterling edged out Dakota State with an 11-10 victory on Saturday, clinching the win with two runs scored in the 10th inning.
M. Garcia and J. Garcia each contributed three hits, helping Sterling accumulate 11 hits in total.
The Warriors opened the first inning strong with M. Garcia drawing a walk and reaching third base after consecutive walks to J. Garcia and Harding. Cardenas singled, bringing home M. Garcia. Campos followed with a sacrifice fly, allowing J. Garcia to score. Landen Volner capped the inning with a two-RBI single, putting Sterling ahead 4-1.
In the third inning, Dakota State’s Chris Vinson hit a solo home run, reducing Sterling’s lead to 4-2.
The fourth inning saw significant scoring from both teams. The Trojans added four runs, including a three-RBI double from Vinson. Sterling responded with five runs. A wild pitch scored a run, followed by an RBI single from Cardenas. Campos’ two-RBI double increased the lead, and a single by Ramos and a single by Grayson Mulready brought home the final run of the inning. Sterling led 9-6.
Dakota State scored two runs in the fifth inning, narrowing the margin to 9-8. Then, in the sixth inning, they tied the game at 9-9 with a sacrifice fly by Aiden Perry.
After a scoreless seventh, eighth, and ninth innings, the game went into extra innings. In the top of the tenth, the Trojans pushed across one run. Sterling answered in the bottom half with M. Garcia doubling and later scoring on an error, followed by J. Garcia scoring on a single by Ramos, securing an 11-10 walk-off victory for Sterling.
Colin Clark pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing eight hits and five earned runs while striking out three batters. Cooper Lovelace made a brief appearance, throwing 1/3 innings without allowing a hit or a run. Peyton Fletcher contributed 1 2/3 innings, giving up two hits and three earned runs, while hitting three batters and recording a strikeout. Jason Reed and Jack Trent effectively shut down the opposition over a combined 3 2/3 innings, with neither pitcher allowing a hit or an earned run. Jordan Ramsey closed out the game with 2/3 innings, conceding two hits but keeping the score tied to earn a win.
Emmanuel Huerta Cardenas contributed significantly, scoring two runs and collecting two hits with two RBIs. Matthew Garcia added two hits, including a double and a triple, while also scoring two runs. Ezavien Campos drove in four runs with a double and added a hit to his performance. Landen Volner tallied two hits and drove in two runs, providing offensive support.
With the sweep, Sterling moves to 8-11 on the season and 2-4 in conference. The Warriors will restart conference play against Friends University (8-11, 3-3) on Tuesday, March 3 in Wichita, Kan. 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.
