OKLAHOMA CITY - The Mid-America Christian University softball team opened its 2019 campaign on short notice and in unique fashion on Thursday afternoon. After battling the weather and having their first two dates of the season erased by rain and cold, the Evangels were able to get an opening day twin bill at Jack Allen Field on Thursday, though MACU only played in one of the games.
The Evangels (1-0) used a late rally to break upen a tight game, and behind a solid pitching performance from all three hurlers to toe the rubber in the game, MACU cruised past Sterling College (1-7) with a 7-1 win. The second game featured Langston University (1-2) beating Sterling 13-8.
The Warriors struck first in the top of the second inning, but a the Evangels were able to squelch the rally with a great defensive play. Sterling got a 1-out double from Vanessa Burnett, and she scampered home with the first run on a pop-fly single that fell in down the right field line to break the ice and put SC up 1-0. Three pitches later, Sterling got a base hit to right field, but as the Warriors tried to get a second run in the frame, Hannah Salmon fielded the ball and came up firing to the plate, and the throw was in plenty of time for Hanna Harris to apply the tag and end the inning with MACU down only one.
In the bottom of the third frame, Jessica Holt drew a lead-off walk, and one out later, she raced around the bases to score from first on a double from Amber O'Bryant to tie the game at 1-1. MACU took the lead in the bottom of the fourth when, after a two-out infield single from Ribbin Anderson, the junior left fielder stole second, and pinch runner Brook Hendrickson scooted home from third on a double-steal to give MACU the 2-1 edge.
The score remained the same into the bottom of the sixth inning when a lightning bolt from Brittany Ward ignited a five-run rally. Ward lined the second pitch of the inning for a solo homer to left center field, and after a walk to pinch hitter Alexa Franks and a bunt single from Holt, Anderson stepped to the plate. Anderson lined a double to left center that scored Caitlin Butler - who had re-entered the game after Franks's walk - and that left runners at second and third with still nobody out. Salmon reached on an error with one out in the inning, and both Holt and Anderson scored on the play, while Salmon raced all the way to third, and freshman Adrienne Phillips doubled her home to cap the five-run frame.
That was more than enough for the MACU pitching staff. McKenzie Smith (1-0) made her first start for MACU in the circle, and she earned the win, allowing only one earned run on four hits and two walks in four innings of work. Smith struck out two batters as well. Taylor Bankston worked a scoreless inning in relief of Smith, and Regan Martin (1) tossed the final two frames to earn the save. Martin and Bankston each allowed one hit, and Martin had one strikeout.
Teanne Edens (1-3) allowed seven runs, six earned, on eight hits in five and one third innings for Sterling. She walked five and struck out five, and she was saddled with the loss. Moriah Payton gave up one hit and got the final two outs of the game.
Anderson was 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored; Salmon notched a pair of singles in three at bats with a run, a walk, and an RBI; and Ward was 2-for-3 with a single and the solo homer. Larie Amos drew a pair of walks, and Holt singled and walked in three trips while scoring twice.
MACU will open Sooner Athletic Conference play on Friday afternoon with a double-header against Central Christian College of Kansas (1-1) at Jack Allen Field. The twin bill is scheduled to commence at 1 p.m.
