Lady Warriors drop doubleheader to Pioneers

PLAINVIEW, Texas — Sterling dropped two games in a doubleheader against Wayland Baptist (TX) on Saturday, Feb. 12. The Lady Warriors lost the first game 11-10 and the second game 14-6 in two competitive matchups.

Game 1

Sterling opened the game with a commanding performance in the first inning, scoring seven runs. Mariah Cunningham started the action by reaching base on an error and later scoring on Cheyenne Cunningham's double. Maria Casillas followed with a two-RBI single, bringing in C. Cunningham and Mallory Seidel. Alessandra Ambriz contributed with a two-RBI single, and Kylie Dunbar added another run with a single. Sterling led 7-0 after the first inning.

Wayland Baptist responded in the second inning, narrowing the gap with five runs. A double by Mikenzi Carlo and a subsequent Reagan Davis double accounted for three of those runs, closing the score to 7-5 in favor of Sterling after two innings.

In the fifth inning, Sterling extended their lead, scoring three more runs. Dunbar reached base on a hit by pitch, followed by Emily Samaniego and Seidel each contributing singles. C. Cunningham then hit a two-RBI double, pushing Sterling's lead to 10-8 after the fifth inning.

The Pioneers continued to pressure Sterling, scoring a run in the eighth inning to clinch a narrow 11-10 victory. Despite the efforts, Sterling was unable to reclaim the lead, concluding the game with a final score of 11-10 in favor of the Pioneers.

Valerie Perez started for Sterling, pitching 2 innings with four hits, two earned runs, and two strikeouts. Perez faced 14 batters and allowed two walks while throwing 42 pitches, 26 of which were strikes. Madison Hedgecock relieved Perez, pitching 1 inning, allowing three hits and one earned run. Hedgecock faced nine batters and recorded a pickoff. Macaela Ambriz closed the game, pitching 4 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and one earned run, while striking out three. Ambriz faced 21 batters and threw 79 pitches, 49 of which were strikes, maintaining a WHIP of 1.67.

C. Cunningham led the team with three hits and drove in four runs, including two doubles, contributing significantly to the offense. Seidel recorded two hits and scored twice, adding one RBI to her performance. Casillas had one hit and drew a walk, driving in two runs to support the scoring effort. Ambriz provided solid relief from the mound, pitching 4 2/3 innings with three strikeouts and allowing just one earned run.

Game 2

Sterling recorded 11 hits, highlighted by five doubles, while Wayland Baptist responded with 15 hits and secured the win with a six-run sixth inning.

Wayland Baptist got things going in the second inning, scoring three runs, including a two-RBI single by Kailee Sanchez, to make it 3-0. Sterling responded in the third inning with M. Cunningham scoring on a double by C. Cunningham, followed by a single from Casillas that brought in another run, closing the gap to 3-2. Wayland Baptist extended their lead in the fourth inning with five runs, highlighted by Brooke McLaurin's two-RBI single, ending the inning 8-4. Sterling continued to battle in the sixth inning, capitalizing on an error to score two unearned runs, but Wayland Baptist responded with six runs in the bottom half, including a two-RBI single by Mikenzi Carlo, to secure their lead. The game concluded with Wayland Baptist triumphing over Sterling, 14-6.

Olivia Wright pitched 3 2/3 innings for Sterling, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits while striking out two and walking one. Wright threw 97 pitches, 57 of which were strikes, and faced a total of 21 batters. Macaela Ambriz made a brief appearance, pitching no innings while allowing one hit and one walk in eight pitches. Ambriz faced two batters and allowed a double during the outing.

Ashley Johnson led the team with two RBIs, hitting two doubles and scoring once. Perez added two runs and secured two hits, including a double. Mya' Dunn contributed with a double and a hit, finishing without any runs. Casillas recorded one RBI and one hit while also pitching 1 2/3 innings, allowing five earned runs.

Sterling (1-3) will be back in action on Tuesday, Feb. 10 as they take on Hesston College in a doubleheader in Hesston, Kan. at 1 p.m. & 3 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.