OKLAHOMA CITY -- Robert Santana tied his career-high with 16 strikeouts to lead the Mid-America Christian University Evangels to a 6-1 series-opening victory over the St. Gregory's University Cavaliers today (Mar. 27) at James Curtis Field. 

The victory gives Santana his team-leading fifth win of the season.  

Santana allowed only one hit, a lead-off double by Jacob Ratliff in the first inning that was ruled just inside the left field line.  A wild pitch and a safety squeeze by Fabian Reza led to the Cavaliers only run of the game. 

The Evangels promptly tied the score on an RBI single by Dustin Carlsward that plated Daniel Thompson in the bottom of the first. 

Logan Glasgow then singled home Thompson and an RBI groundout by Chevin Noone gave the Evangels a 3-1 lead after three innings. 

A two-run double by A.J. Wilson in the fifth gave the Evangels even more breathing room and Thompson scored his fourth run of the day on a run-scoring single by Carlward in the bottom of the sixth. 

Carlsward was a perfect 3-of-3 for the Evangels with two RBI and Glasgow was 2-of-4 with a run driven in.  Wilson also had two RBI in the game.

The two schools will complete the series with a doubleheader Saturday afternoon (Mar. 29) at 1 p.m. in Shawnee, Okla.