OKLAHOMA CITY - The Mid-America Christian University softball team was shorthanded over the weekend in Texas, most notably playing without senior catcher Hanna Harris. Harris stayed home due to illness, but on Tuesday afternoon, she returned to the lineup and sparked one of MACU's best offensive outings in a long time.
MACU (13-7, 8-5 SAC) pounded out 24 hits and scored 20 runs, including an 11-run inning, as the Evangels swept Southwestern Christian University (7-15, 3-9 SAC) in a pair of run rule victories. The Evangels won game one 8-0 in five innings, and in game two, MACU pounded the Eagles 12-0 in five frames.
Hannah Salmon singled with two outs in the top of the first inning of game one, and after a wild pitch, Harris singled her home to give MACU the 1-0 lead. The duo combined to ignite a rally again in the third inning when Salmon led off with a single and scored on a double from Harris to double the MACU lead to 2-0. Taylor Bankston continued her hot hitting with a single that put runners at the corners with two outs, and Bankston and Harris executed a double steal to get the Evangels a third run, and after the third inning, MACU led 3-0.
Jessica Holt tripled to left to lead off the fourth inning, and Ribbin Dorado followed with a fielder's choice ground ball. On the play, Dorado was safe on a throwing error, and Holt came in to score after the SCU defense had initially looked her back to the bag at third, and before the dust had settled on the inning, MACU had plated four runs to take a 7-0 lead. After the top of the fifth went by scoreless, Alanna Leisy singled home Shayla Morris with the game ending run as MACU took the run-rule win, 8-0.
Regan Martin (6-3) shined in the circle for MACU, tossing her sixth complete game and third shutout of the season. Martin allowed only two hits and one walk, and she struck out four. Keirsten McCraw (2-4) was tagged for eight earned runs on 14 hits in four and one-third innings of work. McCraw walked four and struck out two in the loss.
Salmon was 4-for-4 in the game with a double, a stolen base, three runs scored and an RBI. Harris was 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, a run and two RBIs; and Jessica Holt was 2-for-3 with a triple and a run. Alanna Liesy doubled and singled in the game, and Bankston singled twice as well.
Dorado led off the second ballgame with a single, then she stole second and moved to third on a passed ball before Amber O'Bryant drove her in with a sacrifice fly to put MACU on top 1-0.
The Evangels broke the game open in the bottom of the second. Brittany Ward opened the frame with a walk, and Caitlin Butler put down a sacrifice bunt as the next hitter. The throw from the SCU catcher was off line, and Ward Scored and Butler moved up to second with still no one out. Holt followed with an RBI single to push MACU's lead to 3-0, and after Holt stole second, Dorado walked and O'Bryant laid down a beautiful bunt for a base hit to load the bases. Salmon reached on an error, and that started the merry-go-round. By the time the inning was over, MACU had plated 11 runs to take a 12-0 lead. It marked the first time in almost exactly two years that the Evangels plated 11 or more runs in an inning, and just the seventh time in program history that the Evangels accomplished the feat.
McKenzie Smith (6-1) earned the win, giving up two hits and two walks with one strikeout in three shutout innings. Adrienne Phillips and Kayla Batt each three a scoreless inning in the win. The loss was charged to SCU starter Katlyn Harris (1-2) who allowed all 12 runs - only three of which were earned - on seven hits and five walks without a strikeout in only an inning and two-thirds in the circle.
Dorado and O'Bryant had two hits apiece, and O'Bryant had the only extra base hit for MACU in the game, a double in the second inning. Dorado scored three runs in the game, Butler and Holt each scored twice, and Dorado, O'Bryant, and Holt each had two RBIs.
MACU will host a weekend series in SAC play on Friday and Saturday. The Evangels will host the Aggies of Oklahoma Panhandle State University (15-9, 6-6 SAC) in a pair of double-headers. The Friday games will begin at 2 p.m. and the Saturday twin bill will start at Noon.
