WAXAHACHIE, Texas - The Mid-America Christian University baseball team's offense woke up on Thursday night in a big win at Southwestern Assemblies of Goe University (Texas). On Friday, the Evangels wrapped up the series, and thanks to a pitching gem and another offensive explosion, MACU completed the sweep.
MACU (14-20, 8-11 SAC) benefited from a gem from Arcangel Soto in game one, and the Evangels put up a dozen runs in game two, as they swept SAGU (19-24, 5-15 SAC) with wins of 2-0 and 12-6.
Diego Pichardo walked in the top of the first inning, and Felix Martinez followed with an RBI double to get MACU on the board before Soto even took the mound.
That was enough for Soto. The junior from Araure, Venezuela scattered three hits and four walks over seven innings in pitching his first shutout as an Evangel. Soto struck out six in the game, and he only allowed one runner to third base in the game.
In the seventh, the Evangels tacked on an insurance run. Colin Minor led off the inning with a double, and he moved up to third on a throwing error from the pitcher. Oliver Fernandez then lofted a sacrifice fly to center with one out to provide the final margin of 2-0.
Soto (2-4) earned the win, while Augie Martinez (3-7) took the loss. Martinez also threw a complete game, allowing two earned runs on three hits, three walks, and he struck out five.In adition to the doubleds from Felix Martinez and Minor, Fernandez had a single, Pichardo had a pair of walks, and Edgar Martinez stole two bases.
Junior Aracena and Minor picked up RBIs in the top of the first of game two, and in the top of the third MACU broke the game open. Pichardo led off the inning with a home run (8), Minor drove in another run on a double to right field, Kevin Lentzner had an RBI ground out, and Luis Sanchez singled home a run to cap off the four-run rally.
In the fourth, Pichardo doubled, and he came around to score on a two-run homer from Felix Martinez, Fernandez hit a sac fly in the top of the fifth, and in the sixth, Minor, Raymond Rodriguez, and Lentzner each drove in runs to push MACU;s lead to 12-2. The Lions scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh against a pair of MACU outfielders on the pitchers mound, and the Evangels took the win 12-6.
Noel Diaz (3-4) earned the win, allowing two earned runs on six hits in six innings, with four walks and five strikeouts. Ben Bills (3-8) took the loss, as he allowed six earned runs on 10 hits in two and two-thirds innings.
For the second time this week, Pichardo finished the game a triple shy of the cycle, posting a 3-for-4 game with three runs scored. Felix Martinez also was 3-for-4 in the game with two singles and a homer, and he scored three runs; and Minor went 3-for-4 with a a double, two runs scored, and three RBIs. Felix Martinez and Lentzner each drove in two runs in the game, Aracena scored twice, and Sanchez had a pair of singles.
MACU will return to Oklahoma, and on Tuesday, they will play their final non-conference game of the season. The Evangels will head across town to nearby Bethany to take on the Crimson Storm of Southern Nazarene University (8-25) at 2 p.m.
