Hillsboro, Kan. -- For the second straight day, the Mid-America Christian University Evangels dropped two one-run games, this time in the form of a pair of walkoff losses to the Tabor College (Kan.) Bluejays today (Mar. 18) in Hillsboro, Kan. The Evangels fell 3-2 in the first game and then suffered an eight-inning, 4-3 setback in the nightcap.
In the second game, the Evangels had runners on second and third with one in a 3-3 game in the eighth inning, but a lineout and strikeout ended the threat.
The Bluejays took advantage and won the game in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Araselly Vargas.
MACU had tied the score in the top of the seventh when Tiphani Napier doubled and Katie Gracey singled home pinch runner Caitlin Butler.
The Evangels took the lead with two runs in the fifth on an infield run-scoring single by Stella Millican and then an RBI double by Napier.
In the bottom of the fifth, Vargas capped a three-run inning with a two-run double that put the Bluejays on top.
Megan Wilson had a career-high three hits in the nightcap for the Evangels, while Napier, Gracey and Brittany Ward each had two hits.
Taylor Fowble started for MACU and lasted four innings, with one run allowed and one strikeout.
Vargas went three-of-four with three RBIs for the Bluejays.
The opening game saw Butler hold the Bluejays to only two hits through the first six frames before running into trouble in the seventh.
The first six Bluejays reached in the seventh frame, culminating with a walkoff RBI single by Devon Fisk-Aguliar.
Similar to the second game, the Evangels also took a 2-0 lead in the opener as Napier tripled home Taryn Callender and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Gracey in the first.
Tabor's Madison Byrd pitched the final six innings much like Butler pitched the first six, blanking the Evangels on only two hits while finishing with 10 strikeouts.
The Evangels will next resume action in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 21) at USAO. The first pitch is set for 4 pm in Chickasha, Okla.
