Feb. 20, 2009
2.20.09 - Oklahoma City, Okla.- The Mid-America Christian University softball team swept William Jewel College on Friday afternoon at Lady Evangel Field.
Game one started off sloppy for the Lady Evangels giving up six runs in the top of the first, committing five errors.
"I knew we were going to have a rough start," softball coach Jerald Lewis said. "We came out flat in warm-ups and carried it into the game. Once we settled in we were successful."
MACU turned it around defensively with help from the mound. Junior Caitlyn Ulmer pitched a complete game only giving up five hits and one walk. She had eight strikeouts and seven groundouts.
"Mo (Ulmer) did her job on the mound," Lewis said. "She was making the pitches we needed her to make in order to win, our defense needed to step it up."
The Lady Evangels got their bats going in the bottom of the fourth inning turning four hits into three runs, making the score 6-3.
The Lady Evangels shut down WJC in top of the fifth with a ground out and two strikeouts.
MACU had a big bottom of the fifth, bringing them within one run of the Cardinals. Courtney Kuebler hit a shot down the third base line putting her in scoring position. She then stole third and a wild throw allowed her to cross home plate. Kelcey Gabriel then hit a home run over the right field fence making the score 6-5.
After a scoreless sixth and a top of the seventh the Lady Evangels had one last chance to tie or win the game.
Lead off hitter, Kuebler had a full count but won the battle at the plate walking to first. With the tying run on first, Gabriel hit a first pitch walk-off home run over the right-center wall. It was her second home run of the game. MACU won the first game 7-6.
"Kelcey's homerun was special," Lewis said. "It was a good win for us. I was very proud of our girls for not giving up. Last year if our team would have been down in the first like we were today we would have been done. We knew we had seven more at-bats to get back in the game and we were victorious. I was impressed with our composure."
The Cardinals put three runs on the board in the top of the first in game two but those were the only runs they would get.
In the bottom of the first Kasey Jones hit a lead off single to shallow center field. Senior Kasey Gardner then hit a first pitch two-run home run, putting the Lady Evangels on the board. Lankford and Kuebler both singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Gabriel. MACU lead 4-3 going into the second.
"Our momentum from game one propelled us through our second game," Lewis said. "Although, we gave them life in the top of the first by giving up three runs we got it back in the bottom of the inning and took control of the game. "
The Lady Evangels added runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. In the fourth Gabriel and Kaci Haney scored off Alesha Calvery's single to center field giving MACU a 6-3 advantage.
In the fifth Brittany Prandy pinch ran for Gardner stealing second and reaching home on a sacrifice fly by Kuebler. Sarah Lankford singled and Caley Westberry pinch ran for her scoring on Gabriel's single to right field putting the Lady Evangels ahead 8-3.
The Lady Evangels closed out the game in the bottom of the sixth with three runs. Somer Grimes and Kacie Jones scored off a Lankford single and Haney singled to center, scoring Gardner ending the game with an 11-3 run rule.
Kalynne Tweedie picked up the win in game two. She gave up nine hits and three runs with four strikeouts and six groundouts.
The Lady Evangels return to action Saturday, February 21st against Central Baptist College. The double header is set to begin at 12 p.m.
