Lady Warriors win NCCAA Central Region Championship

Sterling College softball earned the title of NCCAA Central Region Champions after going undefeated in the double-elimination NCCAA Central Region Tournament held in Sterling, Kan. Monday and Tuesday, May 12-13.

The Lady Warriors, who were the no. 1 seed of the tournament, beat no. 4 Mission University in the opening round, followed by a win over no. 2 Mid-America Christian University in the semi-final game. Sterling beat MACU again in the championship game to take home the championship.

Game 1

On Monday, Sterling came out swinging in the first game with a 5-0 win over the Mission Patriots and scoring three of the five points in the bottom of the first inning.

The Lady Warriors got started with an RBI from Mallory Seidel when she was walked with the bases loaded to bring home Bryley Westfahl.

Mariah Cunningham took advantage of a wild pitch to get home and Aiyana Campos followed it up with another score on another wild pitch to put the Lady Warriors up 3-0.

Desiree Perales added to Sterling's lead in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run single to left field to bring home Westfahl and Cunningham.

MacKenzie Viehland started from the center circle through the first three innings she surrendered one hit, walked one batter and struck out three batters. Kassedy Midgley got the win for the Lady Warriors coming in to pitch the final four innings. She gave up three hits, walked one batter and struck out four.

Perales led the Lady Warriors in assists with three, RBIs with two and recorded a double, while Westfahl led Sterling with two stolen bases.

Game 2

The Lady Warriors followed up the win over Mission with a 3-1 win over Mid-America Christian in the semi-final game the same day. Sterling gave up three hits, had three errors and gave up one run while recording five hits, which resulted in three runs.

Seidel got the first RBI for Sterling once again, getting hit by a pitch with the basepath full to bring home Cunningham.

The Evangels answered back with a single up the middle from Serena Rodriguez to bring home Emylee Campbell and tie the game, 1-1.

Sterling responded with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. The first run being scored by Madilynn Green off an RBI from Cunningham. Perales returned the favor with a single up the middle to bring Cunningham home and put the Lady Warriors up 3-1.

Viehland started and pitched the full seven innings. She surrendered three hits, which resulted in one run, walking one batter and striking out three.

Perales was big from the second base position with seven assists and several diving plays to keep Evangel off the base path while also leading the Lady Warriors in hits with two. Cunningham led Sterling in stolen bases with one.

Game 3

On Tuesday, Sterling faced Mid-America again in the championship game after the Evangels beat Southwestern Christian University 3-2 in the elimination game.

The Lady Warriors turned seven hits into six runs and capitalized on Mid-America's two errors while giving up seven hits and committing two errors which the Evangel turned into four runs, to give Sterling the 6-4 win.

Mid-America got on the board first with a single from Makenzie Thurman to bring home Campbell.

Sterling answered back quickly in the bottom of the first with Westfahl capitalizing on a throwing error by the first baseman to get home and tie the game 1-1.

The Evangels took back the lead in the top of the second with Brooklyn Wilson getting home on a ground out from Hallie Wilson. Campbell followed this up with a single to right center field and Isabel Ray collided with Green at home plate and scored on an obstruction ruling putting Mid-America up 3-1.

The Lady Warriors responded with a four-run second inning to give Sterling their only lead. Sterling worked the base path full and Westfahl laid down a bunt that led to another collision at home plate as Seidel collided with the third baseman and was given the run on an obstruction call.

With the bases still loaded, Cunningham was walked to bring Midgley home. Perales brought Phoebi Waller and Westfahl with a single to right center to give Sterling the 5-3 lead.

Aiyana Campos extended Sterling's lead with a sacrifice bunt to bring home Cunningham.

Mid-America tried to battle back in the top of the seventh with a ground out from Campbell to bring home H. Wilson, closing the gap to 6-4.

Allie Olivarria started from the center circle for the Lady Warriors, pitching six and one-third innings. She surrendered seven hits which resulted in four runs, walking one batter and striking out one. Viehland came in to get the save, finishing the final two outs of the game without giving up a single hit or walking any batters.

Perales led Sterling in RBIs with two, assists with five and stolen bases with one. Cunningham recorded a triple and Green had a double in the win.

Claiming the NCCAA Central Region Championship, the Lady Warriors get an automatic bid to the NCCAA World Series being held in Grapevine, Texas on Monday through Wednesday, May 19-21.

"I'm incredibly proud of this team and all the hard work they've put in. We battled every game this tournament and accomplished what we set out to do – win the regional championship," head softball coach Taylor Lira said. "More importantly, we've kept our focus on glorifying God through it all. This victory gives us great momentum heading into the World Series, and we're excited for what He has in store next."

Sterling will be the no. 2 seed in the World Series and is set to take on no. 7 Southwestern Christian University on Monday, May 19 at 1 p.m. in the Oak grove Softball Complex. 

For more information on the NCCAA World Series click HERE.

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 all of the Warriors' live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network.