OKLAHOMA CITY - The Mid-America Christian University softball team kept the NAIA's #1 softball team on the ropes for much of the afternoon on Monday. The Evangels played right with the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma in their double-header, but while the Evangels were able to keep things close, they were unable to get a clutch hit and they dropped both games.
MACU (13-11, 8-9 SAC) kept game one scoreless into the fifth inning of game one, and in game two, the Evangels had things knotted up through the sixth, but the #1 Drovers (35-0, 22-0 SAC) took both games. USAO won game one 7-0, and they completed the sweep with a 6-3 win in game two.
Caitlin Butler took the ball for the Evangels in the first game, making just her second start of the season, and she was effective early on. She allowed a lead off walk in the top of the first, but she retired the next 11 batters in succession, and after a triple that fell in on a miscommunication in the MACU outfield, She got the final out of the fourth frame to keep USAO scoreless.
The Evangels, though were being stifled by USAO's Emily Cerny. The sophomore and reigning NAIA pitcher of the year gave up just one walk in the first three innings, but with two out in the fourth, Hanna Harris doubled down the left field line to put the first run of the game in scoring position. Cerny, however, induced a ground out to keep the game scoreless.
In the fifth, USAO put runners on first and second with two away, and Karlie Velasco singled back through the middle. The Drovers tried to push across the first run of the game, but Jessica Holt had other ideas. She fired a strike to Harris at the plate who tagged out Karmyn Pearn at the plate to preserve the scoreless tie. Holt singled in the bottom of the fifth with two out, but the Evangels were unable to get her in, and the fifth inning ended with the game deadlocked right where it began.
Unfortunately, USAO broke through in the top of the sixth. The Drovers, taking advantage of Butler as she tired in the circle, opened the inning with back to back walks and a double that was nearly snagged on the dive by Holt in center. The start of the frame chased Butler, and the Drovers eventually pushed across four runs in the inning to take a 4-0 lead. USAO added three more runs in the seventh on MACU reliever Regan Martin, and the Evangels were unable to get anything going on offense, as the Drovers took the win, 7-0.
Cerny (13-0) allowed two hits in the shutout win, with one walk and 11 strikeouts. Butler (0-3) took the loss despite battling tenaciously. She allowed three earned runs on three hits and five walks with one strikeout in just over five innings.
Harris doubled, Holt Singled, and Hannah Salmon walked for MACU on offense, providing three of the four base runners the Evangels managed in the game.
USAO jumped out on top against McKenzie Smith in game two with a run in the second and two in the third to build a 3-0 lead, but in the bottom of the fourth, MACU got on the board. Alanna Leisy walked to lead off the bottom of the fourth, and one out later, Salmon doubled her in to cut the MACU deficit to 1-0. Brittany Ward followed with a single up the middle, and she moved up to second on the throw home to set the table for Taylor Bankston. She singled through the left side to pull the Evangels to within one at 3-2. The Drovers went to the bullpen and turned the ball over to Lyndie Ervin. Ervin promptly committed a throwing error, and Ward scooted home with the tying run.
The fifth and sixth frames went by scoreless, but in the top of the seventh, USAO plated three runs to take a 6-3 lead, but the Evangels mounted one last charge in the bottom of the inning. Holt opened the inning with a single into the hole at short, and three batters later, O'Bryant was hit by a pitch to tie the game. Leisy then bounced a 3-1 pitch up the middle, but USAO's Tarah Madron made a diving play to take a hit away from Leisy, and she flipped the ball to second just in time to get O'Bryant and end the game in a 6-3 win for USAO.
Ward singled and double in three at bats, and Holt singled twice in three trips. Salmon doubled in one of her three at bats, she scored one run and drove in another, Leisy and Ward each scored runs as well, and Bankston had an RBI.
MACU will be back at home on Friday afternoon to host the Southwestern Assemblies of God University Lady Lions (19-13, 14-4 SAC) for a double header beginning at 2 p.m.
