Chickasha, Okla. – The Mid-America Christian University Evangels slugged five home runs, their most since the 2011 season and equaling their most as an NAIA school in capturing their first-ever Sooner Athletic Conference tournament victory, 14-7 over the Southwestern Christian University Eagles today (May 6) at Bill Smith Ballpark in Chickasha, Okla.
The win pushes the Evangels into a winner's bracket matchup with second-seeded and No. 16-ranked USAO tomorrow afternoon (May 7) at 2 p.m.
"That was a special win today," MACU head coach Adrian Savedra said. "They just refused to lose."
With the game tied at 7-7 in the bottom of the seventh, Jerry McNew loaded up and hit his team-leading 11th home run of the season to give the Evangels a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
The Evangels then came up in the eighth and effectively put it away with six runs, starting with a two-run single by Ryan Moseley.
McNew then doubled home both Moseley and Chevin Noone and a bases-loaded walk to Cale Backward put the Evangels on top by six runs.
The final run of the big inning came on an RBI single by Reggie Lindsey that plated McNew.
Colt Pickens started the Evangels' home run parade by hitting the first of his two homers on the day, a two-run shot in the bottom of the first to bring MACU within 3-2.
In the bottom of the third, a solo blast from Dylan Queen tied the score and Pickens followed that with his second two-run shot of the day to put the Evangels (20-30) on top by two runs.
The Eagles (39-11) responded and tied the score on an RBI double by Corey Cupp and a run-scoring single from A.J. Leingang in the fifth before taking the lead with two more runs in the sixth.
MACU battled back in the bottom of the sixth as Aaron Conway homered after a single by Cale Backward to tie the score.
Pickens drove in a career-best four runs in going two-of-two at the plate and homering twice. McNew had two hits and three RBIs, while Backward, Conway and Queen also had two hits.
Madison Spencer allowed three earned runs and struck out three in 5 1/3 innings on the mound before Zach Carley shut out SCU over the final3 1/3 innings with a personal season-high tying four strikeouts in picking up the win for the Evangels.
