Oklahoma City, Okla. --
Jose Flores starred at the plate and
Maverick Rork was stellar in relief to lead the Mid-America Christian Evangels to a series-clinching 14-9 victory over the Wayland Baptist Pioneers Saturday afternoon (Apr. 2) at Evangel Field in OKC.
Jon Jon Lemos hit a three-run double as part of a four-run bottom of the seventh that seemingly gave the Evangels a comfortable 9-3 lead, only to have the Pioneers come back and tie the score with six runs in the top of the eighth.
The big inning for the Pioneers was keyed by a two-run double from Brian Embery and a two-run single by pinch hitter Calvin Bass.
With the Pioneers having a golden opportunity to take the lead with runners on first and second and only one out, freshman Rork came on and shut the door with two strikeouts to end the threat and keep the score tied.
The Evangels' bats then came alive again in the bottom of the inning as
Jeff Eubank smashed a two-run double that put the Evangels back in front 11-9.
But the Evangels weren't through as a two-run single by
David Rhoads made it a four-run game and pinch runner Maximilliano Lopez scored the fifth run of the inning on an RBI fielder's choice by Lemos that made it 14-9.
Rork then stayed in the game and closed out his first career victory with a 1-2-3 ninth inning that featured two more strikeouts.
Flores was 3-of-4 and his first homer tied the score at 1-1 in the second inning. He then hit a three-run blast to give the Evangels a 5-3 lead in the fifth.
Eubank, Rhoads and
Eridani Dume also collected three hits on the day. Lemos was 1-of-4 with four RBI.
The Evangels will next host Arlington Baptist in a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon (Apr. 5) at 1 p.m.
