FORT WORTH, Texas - The expected rain did not materialize in Texas on Saturday, and as a result, the Mid-America Christian University softball team was able to complete their trip south with a double-header against Texas Wesleyan University. The Evangels were battling through illness and injuries, and despite that, MACU was able to earn a split of the twin bill, and a 2-2 weekend trip.
MACU (11-7, 6-5 SAC) managed to hold off a late rally in game one as the Rams stranded the tying run in scoring position in each of the last three innings, but Texas Wesleyan (7-19, 4-10 SAC) was able to take a run-rule win in the second contest, 11-2 in six innings.
MACU broke through in the top of the second inning to get things started on the scoreboard. Alanna Leisy scored on an error to give MACU a 1-0 lead, and after the Rams went scoreless in the bottom half, MACU added three more in the third.
Ribbin Dorado led off the inning with a triple, and she scored on a ground out from Amber O'Bryant to double MACU's lead to 2-0. Brittany Ward singled home two more runs later in the inning to push MACU's advantage to 4-0. Caitlin Butler scored on a double-steal in the fourth to give MACU a 5-1 lead, but Texas Wesleyan answered in the bottom of the fourth with four runs to tie the game and force MACU to go to the bullpen.
McKenzie Smith entered after three straight hits to open the frame, and she was able to put out the fire, and in the top of the fifth, MACU answered with two more runs to reclaim the lead at 7-5. Caitlin Butler had an RBI single in the inning, and Leisy scored on an error for the second time in the game.
A two-out triple in the bottom of the fifth pulled the Rams to within one, but Smith induced a fly out to end the inning. That became a theme in the final two frames. In the sixth, Texas Wesleyan loaded the bases with two outs, but Smith got a ground out to Butler to end the threat, and in the seventh, the Rams got the tying run to second with a two-out stolen base, but Smith got another groundout to short to end the game and preserve the win.
Smith (5-1) picked up her second win in as many days with a four inning relief stint. She gave up two earned runs on five hits and she struck out one to earn the win. Makenna Aycock (3-9) was tagged for the loss, giving up three runs on four hits and three walks in four and one-third innings. Aycock struck out four in the game.
Dorado was 2-for-4 with a double and a triple in the game, and she scored a run as well. Leisy singled twice in two at bats, and she scored three times, and Butler had a double in the game as well.
The Rams drew first blood in game two with three straight hits leading to two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Jessica Holt scored a run on a wild pitch in the top of the third frame to get MACU within a single run at 2-1, but the Rams offense added two more runs in the fourth to stretch their lead to 4-1. Hannah Salmon singled in Butler in the top of the fifth inning, but over the final two innings the Rams plated seven runs to take the run-rule win, 11-2 in six innings.
Aycock (4-9) picked up the complete game win, allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits, three walks, and three strikeouts. Regan Martin (5-3) took the loss, as she allowed seven earned runs on 11 hits and one strikeout.
Larie Amos was 2-for-2 with a double before she left the game in the fifth inning.
