LINCOLN, Neb. -- 19th-ranked Sterling College proved whey they are a nationally-ranked baseball team as they took two games from Nebraska Wesleyan on Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 17) at Sherman Field.  Sterling won game one, 11-4, then shutout the Prairie Wolves 9-0 in the second game.

The Warriors improve to 22-5 on the year with NWU falling to 3-7.

Game one was close early as both teams got off to quick starts.  Jaime Gurrola blasted a 3-run home run over the left field fence in the top of the 1st to give Sterling a 3-0 lead.  NWU responded with a pair of runs in the home half of the inning.  Matt Orozco laced a 2-run double to right field to bring in two Prairie Wolves and make it a 3-2 game.

Sterling led 4-2 in the 3rd inning when NWU had a chance to get the lead back.  With the bases loaded, Joe Babic sent a deep drive off the wall in right center field, but the NWU runners held up to make sure it fell so they plated just one run.  James McKain and Mark Korsakas both struck out to end the threat.

From there the Warriors took control for the 11-4 win.  The Warriors finished with 15 total hits.  NWU also had a good day at the plate with 12 hits.  Joe Babic was 3-4, while Matt Orozco, Will Reimer and Colby McPike each had two hits.

Game two was controlled by the Sterling pitching staff.  Four pitchers combined for the Warriors for the complete game shutout.  They struck out 11 total NWU batters and allowed just two hits.

NWU pitchers didn't fare as well allowing 14 total hits in the game.