OKLAHOMA CITY -- Mid-America Christian University starter
Amber Tinney pitched brilliantly in the opener, but the St. Gregory's University Cavaliers snuck by 2-0 and then went on to a 9-1 win in the second game to complete the doubleheader sweep Thursday afternoon (Mar. 15) at Jack Allen Field.
Tinney blanked the Cavaliers on three hits through seven innings, but was matched by SGU's Devon Frazier, who shut out the Lady Evangels over 6 1/3 innings.
SGU (17-2, 4-2 SAC) finally took advantage of the international tiebreaker in the top of the eighth to get on the board. With Blair Ward placed at second to lead off the inning, a sacrifice bunt advanced her to third and then a fielder's choice RBI groundout by Luisa Bar chased her home for the game's first run.
Bar then went to second on another sacrifice bunt and scored on an RBI single by Allison Conyers that made it 2-0.
Conyers, who had come on in relief of Frazier with one out in the seventh, retired the Lady Evangels in order in the bottom of the eighth to pick up the win.
Tinney was a hard-luck loser, going the full eight innings and giving up only the two earned runs.
Frazier was also solid in a no-decision for SGU, shutting out the Lady Evangels with six strikeouts over her 6 1/3 innings of work.
The Cavaliers then regained the lead with a two-out rally in the third on a two-run single by Emily Ledinski and another run-scoring single from Kristen Wehmeyer for a 4-1 lead.
MACU had a chance to answer in the bottom of the inning, but a pair of popouts with the bases loaded ended the threat.
Danielle Bacon extended the lead for SGU with an RBI double in the fourth and then a two-run double by Ledinski sparked a five-run fifth inning that put it away.
Frazier pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen to earn the win for the Cavaliers.
The Lady Evangels will next participate in the Sterling College Tournament in Sterling, Kan. on Friday (Mar. 16) and Saturday (Mar. 17).
