Sterling, Kansas — The Dordt baseball team fell in the first game of the 2022 season, a 6-0 decision to the Sterling Warriors.
Sterling got the scoring started in the bottom of the 1st when a passed ball on a strikeout allowed two runners to score with the bases loaded. The Warriors then added to their lead in the 2nd inning when Ike Brown hit a three-run shot to opposite field, making the score 4-0.
Logan Cline started the top of the 3rd with a one-out double to put himself on second. In the following at-bat, Nolan Christianson got his first hit of the season, a single to right that advanced Cline to third. Sterling pitcher Lira then struck out the next two batters to send the Defenders to the dugout with runners left on base.
In the bottom of the 5th, Carter Scott made his first appearance for Dordt and pitched out of trouble, as two runners were on with one out, but Scott picked up a strikeout in the next two at-bats to keep the score at 5-0.
The Defenders had one final push in their half of the 6th as Chase Edwards opened with a leadoff single. Then, with two outs, Brock Spade was walked to put two runners on. However, Sterling worked through the inning to keep Dordt off of the scoreboard.
The Warriors picked up their third win of the season and sent the Defenders to 0-1.
Sterling picked up the day one sweep of a four-game series with the Defenders on Friday, sending Dordt to 0-2 in the early season.
Dordt was first on the board, moving up 2-0 in the top of the 1st inning. Leading off, Logan Cline advanced to first on a hit by pitch. In the following appearance, Nolan Christianson singled to the left side of the infield to reach base. With one out and runners at the corners, Luke November hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring Cline across the plate. Anthony Rodriguez Klinzing followed with a single to center field that allowed Christianson to score.
Batters were set down in order in the next two frames when Sterling erupted for three runs on four hits in the bottom of the 2nd. A walk and a double to center put two runners in scoring position for Kekahi Reiny-Aloy, who came through with a 2-RBI single. Reiny-Aloy later came around to score on a wild pitch to give the Warriors a 3-2 lead.
The Defenders answered in the top of the 3rd as Cline singled, stole a base, and scored on an error to tie the game at three runs apiece.
Sterling went on to score six unanswered between the 3rd and the 6th, using only six hits to do so.
Dordt gained one run back in the top of the 7th on an RBI single for Cline that allowed David Laurenti to score, but Sterling followed up with a flyout and a double-play to finish the game.
The Defenders will rematch with Sterling Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 PM.
