Oklahoma City, Okla.- The Mid-America Christian University baseball team fell in the National Christian College Athletic Association Central Region Championship game to Colorado Christian University 10-9. MACU defeated CCU in the opening game 8-5 to play in the championship.
Colorado Christian opened game one plating two runs in the first frame but MACU countered in the bottom of the inning with three runs. Pete Feurtado got things started with a single through the gap at second. He stole second and Adrian Bravo-Carmona walked to put runners on first and second. With two outs and a full count, Dan Heskin gave MACU the lead with a three-run home run over the centerfield fence. It was his eighth home run of the year.
MACU added to their lead in the third, plating three more runs. Feurtado led off with a single but was out on the next play as James Frederick hit into a fielder's choice. Carmona singled moving Frederick to third. A double steal plated the Evangels first run of the game. CCU catcher Doug Pavlich threw down to second to try to catch courtesy runner Jimmy Porter stealing allowing Frederick to steal home. Porter was also safe on the play. Tim Mahler followed with an RBI single, plating Porter. Brian Carter hit an RBI single to push Mahler across home plate making it a 6-2 game.
Carmona led off the fifth with his 14th homer of the year, sending it over the right field fence. With one out Mahler hit his first home run of the year, a solo shot over the right field fence giving MACU an 8-3 lead.
The Cougars made things interesting in the top of the seventh, plating three runs on four hits. They ended the game with the bases loaded.
Thomas Peabody got the win in his final appearance in a MACU uniform. The senior right-handed pitcher from San Diego, Calif., tossed 6.1 innings allowing five runs on seven hits with five strikeouts.
MACU dented the scoreboard first in the Championship game, plating two runs in the top of the first. Dan Heskin hit a single, plating Feurtado and Frederick.
The Cougars got one run back in the bottom of the first, using three hits to plate one run.
MACU added to their lead in the second with an RBI single by Feurtado, sending Carter home after singling earlier in the inning.
CCU took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the second, pushing four runs across home plate. Their lead would not last for long. MACU scored four runs of their own in the top of the third. With bases loaded Carter hit a doubled down the right field line, sending Frederick and Porter home. Scott Mulhearn hit a sacrifice fly allowing Heskin to score. A single by Matt Allen pushed Cater across home plate, giving MACU a 7-5 lead.
Sam Lewis led off the sixth with a triple to deep left-center field. Feurtado followed with a two-run bomb over the left field fence, extending the Evangels lead to 9-5.
The Cougars rallied in the bottom of the sixth, plating four runs on five hits to knot up the score 9-9 going into the seventh.
CCU closer Jake Logan struck out the side in the top of the seventh and gave the Cougar just enough momentum to get past the Evangels.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh lead off hitter Steve Carbajal kept CCU alive with a single. Ryan Serena walked. Doug Pavlich followed with the game winning single, plating Carbajal.
Ivan Juvera is tagged with the loss pitching 1.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Starter Ben Coffeen lasted 1.1 innings, allowing four runs, three earned on six hits with one strikeout. Ryan Vollkommer pitched 4 innings allowing three runs on six hits with two strikeouts.
Pete Feurtado ended his career at MACU on a good note. The senior from Santa Cruz, Calif., went 7-7 from the plate with three RBI's and three runs score. His last at-bat was a two-run home run over the left field fence.
The Evangels end their season 24-30-1.
