Softball

Lady Evangels conclude season with losses against No. 4 Central Baptist and Southwestern Christian at NCCAA Central Regional Tournament

Bethany, Okla. -- Exactly one week after watching freshman Jackie Hilterbran toss the first perfect game in school history against Rogers State University, the Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels were on the wrong end of one today as Jessica Bock pitched a perfect game for the top-seeded and No. 4-ranked Central Baptist College Lady Mustangs in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Central Regional Tournament Tuesday afternoon (May 1) at the SCU Softball Fields in Bethany, Okla.  The Lady Mustangs defeated the Lady Evangels 10-0 and went on to take the tournament title with a 9-0 win over the Southwestern Christian University Lady Eagles.
 
Following the loss to CBC, the Lady Evangels' season came to an end with a 6-4 loss to SCU. 
 
Bock struck out eight as the Lady Evangels failed to get the ball out of the infield. 
 
Hilterbran, starting her first game since the perfect outing, was sharp early and kept the Lady Evangels close by allowing only two runs through the first four innings. 
 
But the Lady Mustangs broke through with a pair of runs in the fifth on an RBI triple by Kiara Bonner and a run-scoring single from Erica Gunter and then ended the game on the run rule with a six-run sixth inning.  A two-run double by Raeann Surrett and a three-run walk off homer by Gunter fueled the big inning. 
 
Gunter drove in four runs overall and scored three times in a 2-of-3 effort at the plate to power the Lady Mustangs' offensive attack. 
 
In the second game, the Lady Evangels took an early lead on the SCU Lady Eagles on a two-run single by Ashtin Simeroth that made it 3-1 in the top of the third. 
 
But the Lady Eagles came right back with four runs in the bottom of the third to go up by two runs. 
 
The Lady Evangels came within a run on a double steal in the sixth, only to have SCU again respond with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning. 
 
Autumn Lawrence was 2-of-3 with an RBI for MACU, while Kayla Millette paced the Lady Eagles by going 2-of-4 with a pair of RBI. 
 
Amber Tinney was the hard luck loser by giving up six runs in her six innings of work, but only one earned thanks to four errors. 
 
SCU starter Courtney Gaines was also victimized by her defense, as she allowed four runs, but only two earned due to five miscues by the Lady Eagles. 
 
While Hilterbran's perfect game is the highlight of the season, the Lady Evangels also enjoyed terrific offensive seasons from Ashlee Dodson and Ashtin Simeroth, who were each recently named to the NCCAA All-Central Region squad.  The Lady Evangels also won five games in the Sooner Athletic Conference, their second most since joining the NAIA in 2009.
       
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