OKLAHOMA CITY – Eric Hagstrom went a combined six-of-nine at the plate to lead the Southwestern Assemblies of God University Lions to a pair of wins today (Mar. 19) over the Mid-America Christian University Evangels by scores of 8-5 and 4-3 at James Curtis Field. The sweep also gives the Lions the series win, two games to one after the Evangels took the opener yesterday (Mar. 18) 16-6.
The Lions won the nightcap in extra innings when Elijah Young hit a one-out homer to snap a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning.
Carson Conarty then put the Evangels down in order in the bottom of the eighth to preserve the win.
Conarty came on in relief and pitched two shutout frames with three strikeouts to get the win.
The Evangels had jumped on top in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Dylan Queen that scored Reggie Lindsey.
After the Lions plated two runs in the fifth on run-scoring singles from Hagstrom and Jake Killion and another run on an RBI double from Maverick Keffer in the sixth, the Evangels pulled even when a bases-loaded walk to Chevin Noone scored Lindsey and a sacrifice fly from Colt Pickens plated pinch-runner Brandon Schoelkopf in the bottom of the inning made it 3-3.
Junior Obeso started the game for the Evangels and went 4 2/3 innings, with two runs allowed and two strikeouts.
Wyatt Glasgow threw 1 2/3 shutout innings in relief and struck out three.
Brandon Ventura got the start for the Lions in the second game and shutout the Evangels over five innings with six strikeouts and four walks.
The Evangels (13-12, 5-4 SAC) also got on the board first in the opening tilt, scoring two runs in the first on an RBI double from Colt Pickens and a run-scoring groundout by Jerry McNew.
Keffer homered in the second to put the Lions on the board and SAGU then got a two-run blast from Raul Castro to take the lead in the third.
The Lions (11-21, 2-7 SAC) got some breathing as Castro doubled home two runs to finish a four-run fourth inning for a 7-2 lead.
Trey Henley hit the first of his two homers in the bottom of the fourth, but Young answered with a solo homer of his own in the top of the fifth.
Another sacrifice fly from Pickens in the bottom of the fifth and a solo homer from Henley in the sixth pulled the Evangels closer, but Conarty blanked MACU in the seventh to close out the win and pick up the save.
Ryan Moseley continued his solid hitting with a three-of-four effort at the plate, while Castro was three-of-four with four RBIs for the Lions.
Glasgow and Levi Scott each pitched a shutout inning out of the bullpen for the Evangels in the first game.
The Evangels will next play a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 22) at Central Baptist College at 2 p.m. in Conway, Ark.
