WBU Softball Opens 2026 Season with Split Against Sterling

PLAINVIEW --- Wayland Baptist softball opened its 2026 season with a hard-fought doubleheader against Sterling on Friday afternoon in Plainview, earning a dominant win in Game 1 before narrowly falling in Game 2.
 
Game 1: Wayland Baptist 11, Sterling 3

The Pioneers set the tone early in the opener, cruising to an 11–3 victory behind timely hitting, aggressive baserunning, and strong pitching.
Wayland struck first in the bottom of the first inning when Brooke McLaurin drove in Kynleigh Kirby with an RBI single. The offense continued to build momentum throughout the game, highlighted by a five-run fifth inning that broke the contest open.

Kirby led the way at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while Reagan Davis-Pena and Berkley Bradley each recorded multi-hit performances. McLaurin added two RBIs and stole two bases, showcasing Wayland's speed and pressure on the basepaths.

In the circle, Kirby delivered a strong opening-day performance, tossing 5.2 innings while allowing just two earned runs and striking out seven. Erin Trevino came on in relief to close out the game.

Wayland finished with 11 hits and forced Sterling into multiple defensive miscues, capitalizing on mistakes to extend the lead late with four runs in the sixth inning.
 
Game 2: Sterling 7, Wayland Baptist 5

The second game of the doubleheader turned into a tightly contested battle, with Wayland fighting until the final out before falling 7–5.

Sterling scored first in the opening inning, but the Pioneers quickly answered when Mikayla Carrillo launched a solo home run to even the score. Carrillo continued her strong day in Game 2, finishing 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

Wayland grabbed momentum in the third and fourth innings, using RBI hits from Berkley Bradley, Yaneli Jaramillo, and Carrillo to build a 4–2 advantage.
However, Sterling responded with a four-run fifth inning, taking advantage of walks and defensive errors to swing the momentum back in their favor.

Despite the setback, Wayland continued to battle. In the sixth inning, Carrillo singled and later scored on an error to cut the deficit to 7–5, giving the Pioneers renewed hope. The defense held Sterling scoreless in the seventh, but Wayland was unable to mount a final rally.

In the circle, Brooklyn Ray struck out 10 batters in four innings, while Logan Schultz provided solid relief, allowing just one unearned run over three frames.
 
Up Next

The Pioneers will cap off their four-game opening weekend series with another doubleheader against Sterling College on Saturday, February 7^th. Game one is scheduled to begin at 12:00 PM and game two is set for 2:00 PM.