February 28, 2025

STERLING, Kan. – Sterling (Kan.) of the Kansas College Athletic Conference shut down Dakota State (S.D.) in a non-conference doubleheader action Friday afternoon at SC Softball Field.  The Warriors swept DSU by the score of 17-0 and 10-2.

The Trojans, who were playing their first contests outdoors after playing their first 12 games indoors, fell to 3-12 overall record.  Sterling evened their overall record to 6-6.

Dakota State looks to swing back in the winning column Saturday as they play their final preseason tournament.  The Trojans open the tournament at 1:20 p.m. versus Ottawa (Kan.) followed by a contest with host-team Friends (Kan.) at 3:40 p.m. at Two Rivers Youth Complex in Wichita, Kan.

Game 1:  Sterling (Kan.) 17, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL/5 innings

Sterling plated two runs in the opening inning to grab a 2-0 lead.  The Warriors exploded for 12 runs in the bottom second inning, ignited by Mariah Cunnigham's 2-RBI triple.  SC led 14-0 after two innings.

The Warriors added three runs in the bottom fourth inning to round out the final score.

DSU was unable to record a hit in the game. 

Nine different Sterling batters recorded at least a hit in the game., led by Mya' Dunn with two hits and two RBIs.  Dieree Perales added two hits and an RBI.  Bryley Westfahl recorded two hits.  Cunnigham had a triple and three RBIs.  Mallory Seidel added a hit and collected three RBIs.

Maycee Bricker, Mason Usselman (L, 1-3), and Makenna McGee pitched in the game for Dakota State.

MacKenzie Viehland (W, 4-0) and Maria Casilla combined a shutout in the pitching circle for Sterling.

Game 2:  Sterling (Kan.) 10, Dakota State (S.D.) 2 – FINAL/5 innings

The Warriors used a fast start in the second game of the doubleheader and never trailed to secure a doubleheader sweep.

Kelly Hirlas earned a 2-RBI single, followed by Aiyana Campos' 2-RBI triple to give SC a 4-0 lead.  Seidel added an RBI ground out as the Sterling extended their lead to 5-0 in the bottom first.

Sterling made it 6-0 in the bottom second as Cunnigham produced an RBI to score Westfahl, who led off the inning with a double.

DSU was unable to score in the top fourth inning, despite a lead-off triple by Michelle Evdos.  The Warriors scored four more runs in the bottom fourth inning, capped by Maria Casillas' RBI double to make it 10-0.

Dakota State snapped their scoring drought in the top fifth, plating two runs.  Brenley Goebel recorded a single with one out.  Hannah McFarland was hit-by-pitch to advance Goebel to second base.  Jordyn Jeffries added a single to set up a bases loaded situation for the Trojans.

Gabrielle Ortega-Alves hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Goebel as DSU trailed 10-1 in the top fifth frame.  Evdos reached safely on base with two outs caused by SC's defensive error, allowing McFarland to score as the Trojans trimmed their deficit to 10-2.

Dakota State was unable to extend the game into the bottom fifth inning as they left two runners on base when the game ended, securing the victory for Sterling.

SC outhit DSU 11-4 in the game.

Jeffries led the Trojans with two singles.  Evdos added a triple and an RBI.  Goebel has a single and a run scored.  Ortega-Alves had an RBI. 

Cunnigham, Hirlas, Perales, and Campos each recorded two hits in the game for the Warriors.  Hilas had three RBIs, while Cunnigham and Campos each added two RBIs.

Analicia Burgos (L, 0-4) recorded the defeat in the pitching circle for Dakota State.  She worked for two innings.  Bricker and Usselman each tossed one inning in relief.

Allie Olivarria (W, 2-3) earned the victory after working for 4 1/3 scoreless innings for Sterling.  She scattered two hits.  Madison Hedgecock worked for two outs in relief, giving up two runs on two hits.