Bartlesville, Okla. -- The Mid-America Christian Evangels opened up the 2011 campaign with a hard-fought 10-9 loss to the Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles in a 15 inning marathon Saturday afternoon (Jan. 29) in Bartlesville, Okla.

Jon Jon Lemos helped the Evangels jump on the Eagles early with a three-run homer as part of a four-run first inning. 

Lemos then socked another homer in the second inning that put the Evangels in front 5-0. 

The Eagles then charged back with four runs of their own in the second, followed by two more runs in the third and fourth inning to jump on top. 

A two-run double by Luis Martinez and a solo homer by David Rhoads in the fifth inning once again put the Evangels back on top.

It appeared the Evangels (0-1) had the game put away with two outs in the ninth, but the Eagles tied the score at 9-9 when Lemos couldn't hang on to the final out when he crashed into the wall and was forced to leave the game with an injury. 

The score stayed that way until the Eagles scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the fifteenth. 

"We played really well and even though we didn't come up with the win, the guys fought until the last inning and that's what we're working hard for," MACU head coach Dany Brazoban said. 

The Evangels will be back in action on Friday afternoon (Feb. 4) with a doubleheader at Dallas Christian.