OKLAHOMA CITY – Senior Hannah Salmon was nearly unstoppable from the plate on Tuesday afternoon as the Mid-America Christian softball team remained undefeated with a 9-1 and 10-2 sweep over Sterling (Kan.) at Jack Allen Field. Salmon swatted 6-for-7 with seven RBIs and a pair of runs to lead the hot swinging Evangels.


GAME ONE

Mid-America Christian (3-0) got this one going early with a run in the first inning. Jessica Holt opened the bottom half of the first with a single to left field and after advancing to second off a SAC bunt by Amber O'Bryant, would come around to score the lone run of the inning off an RBI single by Salmon.
 
Sterling College started the top of the second off strong with a leadoff single off the bat of Vanessa Burnett. Sterling would end up adding two more hits off of MACU starter McKenzie Smith, but the senior hurler was able to escape the inning unscathed.
 
After a quiet two innings, the Evangels add some insurance runs to their one run lead by scoring four in the bottom half of the fourth. With one out in the inning, the rally started when Caitlin Butler was hit by a pitch. After stealing a base and reaching third off a fielder's choice. Butler, along with Ribbin Dorado who also reached first on the fielder's choice, came around to score off a two RBI single by Salmon. Next up Oliva Roberts ripped a double down the right field line to score both Holt and Salmon, bringing the score to 5-1.
 
Two innings later, Sterling scored its lone run when Kaycee Carter came home on an RBI groundout by Brennah Jimenez.  
 
However, the Evangels bounced back with four runs in the bottom half of the sixth to end it. Salmon started the scoring onslaught by notching her fourth and fifth RBI's of the game with a single to right center. Camenda Osborn drove in one more with a single to center and MACU ended it on a double steal attempt that resulted in Salmon scoring as the Warriors tried to catch Osborn between first and second.
 
Mid-America Christian scored its nine runs on seven hits and committed no errors while Sterling pushed across its one run on four hits and no errors.
 
Smith picked up her second win of the season with a complete game, giving up just one earned run on four hits with two walks and a season-high six strikeouts.
 
Salmon went 3-for-3, driving in a career-high five RBIs and stole three bases, while drawing a walk and scoring twice. Holt was effective in the leadoff position, scoring a team-high three runs after batting 1-for-3 with a pair of walks.


GAME TWO
 
Mid-America Christian (4-0) repeated the fast start in first inning of game two, scoring its first run in inning in the bottom half of the first. Holt led off the frame with an infield single and after being moved to second on a SAC bunt, was driven in by another RBI single down the left field line by Salmon.
 
In the second, the Evangels added three more runs on three hits. With runners on the corners and one out, Amber O'Bryant stepped up with an RBI single to center field, scoring both Kylie Stubbs and Holt. In the next at-bat, Salmon continued to stay hot from the plate, ripping RBI single up the middle to bring home O'Bryant to bring the score to 4-0.
 
After two scoreless innings, Sterling ended up breaking through with two runs off of one hit and two errors in the fifth inning. SC's Brooklyn Botts who already had a double on the day, blasted a two-run home run to left field to cut the MACU lead in half at 4-2.

The Evangels answered right back with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Osborn started off the inning with a single up the middle. After loading the bases with just one out, Kylie Stubbs hit a sacrifice fly to right score Mikaylee Allen from third.

Mid-America Christian put together another great sixth inning, scoring five runs to end the game via the mercy rule once again. With runners at second and third and one out, Adrienne Phillips slapped an RBI single to score Evangels pinch runner, Shayla Morris. Next up, Faith Hollingsworth singled up the middle to score Brook Hendrickson to expand the MACU advantage to 7-2. Dorado followed by sending a hard bouncer through the hole at second for a two RBI single. Holt, who started the game with a hit also ended it by singling to the shortstop and beat the throw to seal the Evangels victory.

The Evangels tallied their 10 runs on 15 hits, but committed three errors while Sterling produced its two runs on six hits and didn't commit any errors.

Holt and Salmon led the MACU bats by each going 3-for-4 from the plate. Salmon finished with a pair of RBIs while Holt turned in a pair of runs to go with an RBI.

Phillips improved to 2-0 in the circle by going the distance, giving up just one earned run on six hits, a walk and a strikeout in six innings of work.
 

Mid-America Christian will not have to wait long for its next matchup as the Evangels will be back at home on Friday for a doubleheader against Southwestern College. The opening game of the two-game series is slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch at Jack Allen Field.