Behind a pair of dominant complete games in the pitching circle from Maddi Duncan and Katelyn Kotlarz, the Briar Cliff softball team opened the season with a sweep of Sterling. The Chargers won game one 2-0, followed by a 3-1 victory in game two.
 
"Our pitching was strong today. I was proud of how Kate and Maddi attacked the zone and made competitive pitches when we needed them," said head coach Erin Bly. "We need to tweak a few things on offense, but we found a way to score and I'm proud of how our hitters didn't give up even when we didn't have our best stuff. Good start to the season!"  
 
Duncan tossed a two-hit shutout in game one with nine stikeouts, while Kotlarz totaled 14 strikeouts in a one-run complete game.
 
Game 1 – W, 2-0
The Chargers had runners in scoring positions in each of the first three innings but were unable to cross home plate. Duncan breezed through her first inning in a Blue and Gold jersey in 1-2-3 fashion. Sterling had runners on second and third in the second inning, but Duncan escaped unscathed with a strike out.
 
Ali Naumann reached base via error to lead off the fourth inning and moved over to second after a Sidney Lierman ground out. Kieya Belmont doubled to left field, scoring Naumann and give the Chargers a 1-0 lead. Aubrey Chichurka brought Belmont home two at-bats later putting the Cliff up two runs.
 
Over the final three innings, Duncan struck out three batters without giving up a hit. Sterling would advance a runner to third base in the bottom of the seventh, but a swinging strikeout ended game one 2-0.
 
Karina Cupples, Callie Billings, Belmont and Chichurka each had one hit, while Billings stole two bases.
 
Game 2 – W, 3-1
After three scoreless innings, Sterling was in prime position to build a sizeable lead in the bottom of the fourth with the bases loaded and no outs. Kotlarz shut down the Warrior offense, retiring the next three batters via strikeout to end the inning scoreless.
 
The Charger bats found their swing in the top of the sixth, putting up three runs in the inning. All three runs batted in came with two outs already recorded in the inning. Kennedy Andersen drove in Cupples with a single to left center to score the first run. Kylee Lukes drove in Naumann, and then in the next at-bat crossed home plate herself on a Chichurka double.
 
The Warriors loaded the bases for the second time in the contest in the bottom of the sixth with two outs. Kotlarz again escaped the jam with a swinging strikeout, her 13th of the game. Sterling found one run in the seventh inning, but the Chargers closed out the 3-1 win.
 
Cupples led the Cliff with two hits, while Andersen, Lukes and Chichurka had one each. Cupples and Naumann each stole a base and Chichurka had the Chargers only extra base hit.
 
Briar Cliff are back in action tomorrow in North Newton, Kansas for a doubleheader against Bethel. Game one is set to start at 12:00 p.m.