Sterling loses to Ottawa in three game series

Sterling College baseball faced another tough series against Ottawa University. In the three-game series on Friday and Saturday, March 7 and 8, Sterling lost all three games of the series but showed promise through stretches.

Game 1

In the first nine-inning game, the Warriors struck first but were unable to hold onto the lead as the Braves game back for the 10-3 win.

Luis Morales got things started off with a score, capitalizing on an error by the short stop in the bottom of the first inning. Ottawa answered back quickly with two scores in the top of the second.

Sterling made short work of the top of the third inning with a triple play off a line out to short stop, Ezavian Campos, who quickly tossed it to second baseman Austin Santiago, followed by a throw to first baseman Jackson Parmenter to complete the triple play.

Ottawa was unshaken and came back in the fourth with three scores in the top of the fourth followed by another score in the top of the fifth to give the Braves a 6-1 lead.

Sterling fought back in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly from Santiago to bring home Morales and a single to left field from Campos to bring home Andrew Dutro.

However, the Warriors couldn't get anything else going offensively and the Braves ended the game on top, 10-3.

Aaron Alvarado started the game from the mound for the Warriors. He pitched through five innings, surrendering 10 hits, which resulted in six runs (four earned), walking four batters and striking out one.

Game 2

Game two was a different story with the same results. Ottawa came away with the 10-3 win but never allowed Sterling to get the lead.

Although Ottawa scored first in the top of the first inning, the Warriors answered back with a score of their own off of a Dutro single up the middle that brought Morales home.

The Braves racked up two more runs in the top of the second and Nehemiah House worked his way around the bases and scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the second.

The top of the third is where Ottawa began to pull away with six scores that put the Warriors down, 9-2.

Campos tried to breath life back into the Warriors with a single through the left side to bring Santiago home in the bottom of the fourth, but the Braves had the final word with a score in the top of the sixth to finish the game up 10-3.

Pitcher Tyreek Sherman started the game for Sterling. He surrendered seven hits and three walks which resulted in eight runs (five earned) while recording two strikeouts through two and one third innings.

Aaron Elsasser finished out the game from the mound, he gave up six hits and walked none while striking out three.

Game 3

Sterling played a much closer game in the final game of the series against Ottawa but still fell short in a 5-2 loss.

It proved to be a quiet six innings, with Ottawa being the sole score in the top of the third. However, the seventh inning is when things heated up at the plate for Ottawa, as the scored four runs giving the Braves going into the bottom of the seventh.

The Warriors didn't go away quietly. Santiago hit a single into right field to bring Dutro home. House followed suit with a single to right field to send Parmenter in for the run.

Jace Philips took the mound for Sterling, pitching all seven innings. He faced 32 batters, throwing 59 strikes on 110 pitches. He surrendered six hits which resulted in five runs, walking four batters and striking out two.

The Warriors (5-14) look to bounce back from this loss in their next game against Southwestern College (3-10) at home, Tuesday, March 11.

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.