Lady Warriors get the extra-innings victory, split doubleheader with Evangel

Sterling College softball traveled to Springfield, Mo. on Monday, April 14 as they took on Evangel University in a doubleheader. The Lady Warriors split losing the first game 12-5 before winning the second game 7-4 in extra innings.

Game 1

The first game of the doubleheader started out quiet for both teams until the third inning when Sterling put up five runs and Evangel answered back with seven. After that it was all Valor as they took the 12-5 win.

Kelly Hirlas got things started in the top of the third reaching first on a fielder's choice that allowed Samantha Graham to make it home. Desiree Perales laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring home Mariah Cunningham and advance herself to first on fielder's choice.

Aiyana Camos doubled up the middle to advance both Hirlas and Desiree home and Pheobi Waller followed it up with a sacrifice bunt to bring home Madilynn Green and give Sterling the 5-0 advantage.

The Valor answered back quickly with seven runs of their own in the bottom of the third, including back-to-back home runs from Karlie Romines and Riley Johannes to take back the lead.

Evangel would go on to score one more run in both the fourth and fifth innings and put things out of reach for the Lady Warriors with three runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Starting from the center circle for the Warriors was Maria Casillas. She pitched two and two-third innings, surrendering six hits which resulted in six runs while striking out one batter. Kassedy Midgley came in as relief. She pitched two innings giving up five hits which resulted in two runs (one earned) and walked one batter.

Madison Hedgecock finished things out for the Lady Warriors pitching one and one-third innings. She surrendered three hits which resulted in four runs and walked one batter.

Campos led Sterling in RBIs with two and in stolen bases with one.

Game 2

Sterling tightened things up defensively in the second game and used a big ninth inning to ultimately take home the 7-4 win.

Evangel struck first with two runs in the bottom of the third and added to their lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth to go up 3-0.

The Lady Warriors closed the gap in the top of the fifth with a single from Perales through the left field to bring home Westfahl and Graham.

Sterling tied up the game 3-3 with a triple from Cunningham to bring Westfahl home and force the Valor into extra innings.

Both teams remained scoreless in the eighth inning.

Graham got things started in the top of the ninth inning, laying down a sacrifice bunt to bring home Waller and taking advantage of the fielder's choice to get to first base. Cunningham returned the favor with a double through the left side to bring Graham home.

Hirlas extended the Lady Warrior's lead batting in both Cunningham and Westfahl who took advantage of an error by the pitcher to put Sterling up 7-3.

The Valor tried to answer in the bottom of the ninth but were only able to muster one run before the Lady Warriors finished off the game.

MacKenzie Viehland came up big from the center circle. She faced 40 batters through all nine innings. The hurler surrendered nine hits which resulted in four runs (two earned), walking two batters while striking out three.

Cunningham and Perales led Sterling in RBIs with two each.

The Lady Warriors will be back in action on Wednesday, April 16 at home against Tabor College.

Sterling will be back on the courts on Thursday, April 17 in Kansas City, Mo. as they take on Avila University.

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.