STERLING, Kan. – The Tabor College Lady Bluejays are set to hit the road for a highly anticipated matchup against the Sterling College Warriors tomorrow afternoon. This game is expected to be a critical test for the Bluejays as they look to gain ground in the conference standings towards the end of the regular season. 

Tabor enters the doubleheader with a record of 11-9 in conference play, coming off a stellar upset against conference leader Oklahoma Wesleyan that resulted in a series sweep on Senior Day. The Bluejays have shown flashes of strong play throughout the season, and tomorrow's game will be a chance to prove their consistency on the road. 

Sterling, meanwhile, holds a KCAC record of 14-6 and ranks fourth in the regular season standings. In their most recent outing, the Warriors faced Evangel, who currently leads the conference after the Bluejays' sweep over OKWU on Saturday, and came away with a split series, losing 12-5 in game one and winning 7-4 in game two. 

Several players are expected to be key contributors in this matchup. For Tabor, Cheyenne Washington, Darcy Gillen, and Payten Staley have been standouts at the plate this season, all batting above .350 and combining for 108 RBIs as the regular season winds down. Marisa Carranza has also provided solid pitching performances on the mound, recording 35 strikeouts and making a huge impact on Tabor's defense.

On the Warriors' side, Mariah Cunningham leads the way with a .496 batting average in 119 at bats, while Kelly Hirlas, Aubrie Martinez, and Kassedy Midgley have all provided solid support at the plate as well. Nine Lady Warriors boast a batting average above .350, with six of those batters breaking the .400 mark. 

On the mound, Allie Olivarria and MacKenzie Viehland have provided excellent defensive performances throughout the season, combining for a total of 23 wins and only seven losses between the two. Olivarria holds a 2.30 ERA while Viehland follows at 2.37. The Warriors rank No. 11 in the country in team batting average, which means that Tabor's pitching staff must get creative in the zone to shut down this dominant Sterling offense. 

History between the two teams shows that the Bluejays are on a 13-game winning streak against the Warriors, dating all the way back to 2017. As Tabor aims to continue their success against Sterling, they will look to put crucial runs on the board and tame the Sterling offense quickly. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. on April 16 at Sterling Softball Field, located in Sterling, Kan. Fans who can't make the trip can tune in via KCAC Network to catch the action live. 

Be sure to stay up to date with all information regarding Bluejay Athletics by following us on X at @gotaborbluejays, on Instagram and Facebook @taborbluejays, and on our official athletic website, taborbluejays.com.

Tabor College is a Christ-centered institution located in Hillsboro, Kansas. The Bluejays are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and compete in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC).