Roanoke, Va. – The Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels wrapped up the 2016 season with a 4-0 setback to the Central Baptist College Lady Mustangs at the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) World Series at the Botetourt Sports Complex in Roanoke, Va.

The Lady Mustangs jumped on top early when Racquel Westerman doubled and scored in the second inning.

It remained 1-0 until Cali Lankford singled home a run in the fifth inning and Abby Staton hit a two-out, two-run pinch-hit homer in the bottom of the sixth.

The Lady Evangels' best chance to score came in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases with two outs, but reliever Joella Bayles induced a groundout to get out of the inning.

Marki Dethloff started for the Lady Evangels and pitched three innings, giving up one run and striking out three.

Morgan Wardlow, Caitlin Swain and Macie Crites then each pitched an inning of relief, with Wardlow tossing a scoreless frame with one strikeout.

Mallory Kirkemier shut out the Lady Evangels in her four innings in the circle and struck out two for the Lady Mustangs (30-32).

MACU didn't end the season without some theatrics, recording a triple play to end the third inning.  The play started with a flyout to rightfielder to Tiphani Napier, who then threw out a runner trying to score for the second out. After catcher Katie Gracey fired the ball back to Dethloff, another CBC runner tried to score but Dethloff promptly threw back to Gracey for the third out of the triple play. 

After batting .375 in the Lady Evangels' three World Series outings, Carson Osborne was named to the All-Tournament team. 

The Lady Evangels, under fifth-year head coach Robert Wakefield, end the season at 26-30.  It's the first losing season for MACU since 2013, but garnering the programs first-ever NCCAA World Series berth should continue moving things forward positively heading into next season.