OKLAHOMA CITY - The Mid-America Christian University softball team put their eight game winning streak on the line on Monday afternoon, and the Evangels had a chance to lock up a winning record and a berth in the National Christian College Athletic Association regional tournament. The Evangels extended their winning streak to nine in game one, but the Evangels had to settle for one win, and after the day's action, MACU sits just one win shy of clinching a postseason spot.
MACU (22-12, 15-10 SAC) took advantage of three OPSU (23-17, 14-14) errors to plate five unearned runs in the first game, an 8-0 win in six innings. In game two, however, it was MACU that had four defensive miscues, and it cost the Evangels dearly as OPSU took the game 4-3 to win the season series 3-1.
MACU plated two runs in the bottom of the first inning in game one, and they did so without the benefit of a hit. Jessica Holt drew a leadoff walk - one of five such free passes in the game - and she stole second before Amber O'Bryant sacrificed her to third. Alanna Leisy bounced a fielder's choice ground ball to the pitcher, and the Aggies tried to get Holt at the plate, but the junior outfielder scrambled back to third, and the Evangels had runners at the corners with one out. Leisy and Holt executed a double-steal to get MACU on the board, and Leisy moved to third on a throwing error. Hanna Harris followed with a ground out to second that scored Leisy to cap the inning, and MACU led 2-0 after one.
Regan Martin drew a leadoff walk in the second, and after a walk from Brittany Ward moved runners to first and second, Caitlin Butler blooped a single into shallof left field, and Martin scored on another throwing error to push MACU's lead to 3-0.
Martin led off the fourth with another walk, and with two outs in the inning, Holt singled her home to extend the Evangels' lead to 4-0, and in the bottom of the sixth, the Evangels erupted for four runs on three hits including a walk-off double from Leisy that scored Holt to end the game in an 8-0 win.
Martin (11-4) picked up her third straight shutout, and she extended her personal scoreless innings streak to 18 2/3 innings. She allowed only two hits in the game, she did not walk a batter, and she struck out nine.Kaylor Battiest (11-9) took the loss, allowing eight runs, only three of which were earned, on six hits. Battiest walked five and fanned three in the game.
Ward singled twice and scored a run, Martin was 1-for-1 with a pair of walks and two runs scored, Leisy's double was the only extra-base hit in the game, and Holt scored two runs.
OPSU opened game two by scoring unearned runs in the first two innings, but in the bottom of the second, MACU squared the game on a two-out single from Brook Hendrickson that scored Hannah Salmon and Taylor Bankston to tie the game.
OPSU edged back in front with a run in the top of the third, but MACU scored on a dropped pop-up with the bases loaded and two away in the bottom of the inning and the game was again tied, this time at 3-3.
A bases loaded walk in the top of the sixth frame gave OPSU the lead 4-3, but MACU threatened to tie the game in the bottom of the frame. With two outs and the bases empty, Bankston singled, and Hendrickson doubled to put runners at second and third, but Martin struck out as a pinch hitter to end the threat. Holt led off the seventh with a lead off walk, and after O'Bryant sacrificed her to second, Leisy singled to right-center. Holt held at third, and Leisy tried to take second unsuccessfully for the second out. Harris grounded out to third as the next batter to end the game in a 4-3 OPSU win.
Lindsey Jacobs (10-5) allowed three runs on seven hits in five and two thirds inning for the win, and she struck out seven Evangels. McKenzie Smith (8-4) took the loss, as she allowed four runs - only one of which was earned - on seven hits, three walks, and five strikeouts. Battiest (7) got the final four outs to earn the save. She allowed one hit, walked one batter, and she recorded one strikeout in the game.
Hendrickson was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, and Bankston was also 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Salmon and Leisy singled and scored in the game.
MACU will face a tough road test on Tuesday when they head to Chickasha, Oklahoma to take on the NAIA #1 University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma Drovers (43-0, 30-0 SAC) at 4 p.m. for a double-header.
