Sterling (Kan.), the number one seed in the Jamestown bracket of the NAIA National Opening Round, tied an NAIA Opening Round single-game record with 28 hits on the way to a 22-3 win over the number four seed Midland (Neb.) on Tuesday.
Sterling’s victory sets them up for a 2:30 p.m. matchup on Wednesday against number 2 seed Missouri Baptist, who defeated host Jamestown 7-4.
The Warriors also set a new Opening Round single-game record with 22 singles, breaking the previous record of 21 held by Lee (Tenn.) in 2009, and Cumberland (Tenn.) in 2013.
Gerald Ceballos (JR/Rio Grande, P.R.) had a game-high five hits and seven RBI for Sterling, which had ten players with at least one hit in the game.
Sterling led 6-1 in the top of the second, chasing Midland starter Josh Johnson after an inning and a third. Justin Meyer replaced Johnson and held Sterling scoreless in the third and fourth innings.
Dylan Steyer’s two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth brought Midland within three runs at 6-3.
The top of the fifth saw Sterling score 10 runs on the benefit of 10 hits and a Midland error, taking a 16-3 lead and putting the game out of reach. Ceballos had a two-run homer and a two-run single in the inning as part of his seven-RBI night.
Sterling would add two more in the sixth, one in the seventh, and three in the eighth to finish with 22 runs.
Brad Williams (SR/Perth, Australia) was the winning pitcher, working six innings and allowing three runs on five hits. He walked three and struck out seven. Jacob Hudson(SR/Nashville, Tenn.), Jeremy Sylvester (JR/Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada), andJarron Monroe (JR/Riverton, Wyo.) each worked an inning of relief. Hudson and Sylvester struck out the side in each of their innings, and Monroe recorded strikeouts on two of his three outs.
Johnson was the losing pitcher for Midland, giving up six runs on eight hits in an inning and a third.
Jordan Espino (SR/Buena Park, Calif.) finished 4 for 4 at the plate for Sterling, and Beau Kallas (SR/Draper, Utah) was 4 for 6 with four runs scored and two batted in.Kyle Ulanday (JR/Carson, Calif.) was 3 for 5, while Kendall Radcliffe (JR/Chicago, Ill.) and Luke Maher (JR/Carson City, Nev.) had a pair of hits each.
Midland managed just five hits in the game. Steyer, Anthony Virgen, Zach Kinsella, Zach Belanger, and Brandon Metoyer were credited with hits.
Midland will face the winner of Wednesday’s Avila-Jamestown matchup at 6 p.m. Wednesday evening.
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.
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