April 26, 2009
4.26.09 - Oklahoma City, Okla.- The Mid-America Christian University baseball team dropped two close games to Oklahoma Baptist University on Saturday afternoon at Evangel Field. MACU suffered an 8-6 loss in eight innings in game one and a 9-7 loss in game two.
The losses drop MACU to 23-26 overall with a 9-21 Sooner Athletic Conference record.
In game one Brett St. Amour got the Evangels off to a solid start, leading off the first with a home run. Rocky Polk singled, scoring Alex Webb, who pinch ran for Kieran Bradford who walked earlier in the inning and Jake Scott who singled. Austin Boswell reached on an error and scored on a ground out by Nathan Milton (4-0).
Although MACU scored four runs in the first, the Bison rallied back posting two runs in the second, one in the third, and one in the fourth. Holding the Evangels scoreless in the bottom half of the three innings, OBU tied the game 4-4 going into the fifth.
The Bison took the lead in the top of the fifth, scoring two runs off a home run by left fielder Josh Kirkpatrick (6-4).
MACU got a run back in the bottom half of the inning. Boswell reached on a walk and advanced to third on a single to right field by Polk. OBU's right fielder misplayed the ball allowing Boswell to score.
The Evangels tied the game 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth with a double by St. Amour, scoring Matt Allen who led off the inning with a single.
After a scoreless seventh the Bison posted two runs in the top of the eighth. With two outs, OBU center fielder Chad Dawkins hit a two-run home run, giving the Bison a two run lead going into the bottom of the inning.
OBU pitcher Justin Trejo shut down the Evangels, only facing three batters, giving the Bison pitcher the 9-6 win.
Cody Wise Pitched 7 2/3 innings for the Evangels suffering the loss, falling to 2-8-1 on the season. The senior right hander allowed eight runs, seven of them earned on 11 hits with six strikeouts.
In game two the Bison struck first posting two runs in the first. Lead off hitter Billy Thomas hit a home run and Arin Fowble reached home plate due to a MACU error.
The Evangels answered in the bottom of the inning, getting one run back when St. Amour reached home plate after being hit by a pitch and moved around the bases with singles by Scott and Boswell.
In the second the Evangels tied the game with a double by Allen that scored Nathan Milton who led off, reaching base on an OBU error.
MACU took the lead in the third with the help of a two- run home run by Boswell followed by two OBU errors that allowed MACU to score two more runs giving the Evangels a 6-2 advantage.
After a scoreless fourth, the visitors took the lead adding five runs, using four hit, giving them a 7-6 lead.
OBU added a run in the sixth when Billy Jarka delivered a solo shot over the right field fence; pushing their lead to 8-6.
MACU got one run back in the bottom of the inning with bases loaded OBU pitcher Trejo walked Scott, allowing Allen to reach home plate.
The Bison tact on their final run in the top of the seventh with a home run by first baseman Josh Collazo, his second of the day and 22nd round tripper of the season, giving the Bison the 9-7 lead.
With two outs the Evangels had runners on first and third in the bottom of the seventh but they were unable to produce any runs giving the Bison the 9-7 win.
Thomas Peabody fell to 2-5 on the year with the loss, pitching four innings. He struck out three, allowing seven runs, six earned on five hits.
The Evangels will honor their seniors when they return to action at home on Monday, April 27th with a twin bill against Bellevue. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
