OKLAHOMA CITY -- The No. 1-seeded Central Baptist University Lady Mustangs scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to overcome a two-run deficit and then held on to eliminate the Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels from the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Central Regional Tournament 5-4 tonight (May 9) at the Lawson Softball Complex on the campus of Oklahoma Christian University in OKC.
The Lady Evangels carried a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth, only to have the Lady Mustangs begin the inning with three straight singles to come within a run. A sacrifice fly by Kayleigh Harriman tied the score and then an RBI groundout from Courtney Slaughter plated the go-ahead run.
CBC then added an insurance run when Joella Bayles reached base on an error that made it 5-3.
The Lady Evangels didn't go quietly as Katie Gracey led off the seventh with a base hit, advanced to second on a balk and scored on Kenna McCoy's third hit of the game to cut the deficit to one run.
With two outs, Ashley Sanford reached on an error to keep the Lady Evangels alive and put the tying run at second, but Bayles induced a flyout to end the threat.
The Lady Evangels (34-30) grabbed the temporary two-run lead when McCoy doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a single by Ashley Sanford. Hilterbran then made it 3-1 with an RBI single that scored pinch runner Cheyenne Been.
McCoy paced the Lady Evangels' offensive attack with a 3-of-4 effort with an RBI. Gracey went 2-of-3 with a run scored.
Tiffani Pledger went 3-of-3 for the Lady Mustangs (36-10), while Haley Baugh was 2-of-3 with two runs driven in.
Kelcie Wolf started for the Lady Evangels and allowed three runs in five innings with three strikeouts.
Pitching in her final game, senior Amber Tinney gave up one earned run in her last inning in the circle. Tinney left her mark in her final go around at MACU, winning a single-season school record 16 games this season.
In Hall-of-Fame head coach Robert Wakefield's third season at the helm, the Lady Evangels enjoyed a breakout season. MACU won a single-season best 34 games this year and advanced to the program's first-ever Sooner Athletic Conference tournament championship game.
The cupboard will be full next season as well, with 15 letterwinners returning, including Wolf along with the everyday lineup that batted .320 on the season, good for fourth in the SAC.
