Haskell nearly defeats host Sterling in final game 4-3, loses first contest to Bethany College, 9-4.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. --Standing in the way of the Haskell softball team and their first win of the 2012 season, was just one run, but that deficit would prove to be too much, leaving the Indians with their closest defeat all season, a 4-3 loss at the hands of the host Sterling College Warriors. HINU's second straight loss of the morning dropped their record to 0-15, with MCAC conference play to begin after spring break.

The Indians' game with Sterling would remain scoreless through three and a half innings of play, until the Warriors put two runs on the board in the bottom of the third. Joe Bointy's club would fight back though, with three of their own in the top of the sixth. The rally was sparked with RBI's from Ashleigh Brown, Christin Voice and Kendall Calderon, but it was leftfielder Miranda Cobell that had the best day at the plate, going 2-3, with a run scored.

With a 3-2 lead intact, going into the bottom of the seventh, HINU looked to close out the tournament hosts for their first win of the year, but a two run homer from Warrior outfielder Jessica Steere off HINU hurler Nicole Macias gave the home team a 4-3 walk-off win. Going the distance for her team was Macias, who gave up three earned, on nine hits in seven innings of work. She struck out one Sterling batter and took the hard luck loss.

In the first game of the day, Haskell was shut down by Bethany College (Kan.), 9-4. Sophomore Kendall Calderon went six innings for her team, giving up nine runs on 17-hits, she struck out one and walked none during Saturday's outing.

The Indians fell behind 7-1, heading into the fifth against the Swedes, but rallied for three in their top half of the inning. BC would tack on one run in each of the two following innings to clinch the 9-4 victory. At the plate, Ashleigh Brown had a solid first game going 2-3, while Katie Keller-Manuelito, LaReina Jim and Jahna Yuhn each picked up RBI's for HINU.

Brown and Cobell both had three hit days for HINU, with Brown going three for six, in the doubleheader, with two runs scored and an RBI. Cobell also batted .500 on the day (3-6), with a run scored.

The Indians' final record at the Sterling College Tournament stands at 0-5, with three losses on Friday, to McPherson, Friends University and Bethel College, as well as two losses on Saturday morning to Bethany College and host Sterling.

HINU now has ten days to rest before opening up Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference play with a doubleheader against the College of Saint Mary. Haskell went 0-2 against the Flames during their only doubleheader meeting last season, and will look to break that winless streak as well as this season's losing skid, March, 27 in Lawrence. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Haskell Field, with the second contest to begin at approximately 4 p.m.