OKLAHOMA CITY – The Mid-America Christian softball team will start Sooner Athletic Conference competition this weekend as the Evangels will host Central Christian in a four-game series at Jack Allen Field. MACU will open the series with a twin billing, starting at 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28 before wrapping up the series with a noon doubleheader on Saturday.
LAST TIME OUT
Mid-America Christian (6-0) dominated Southwestern (Kan.) in every facet of the game on Friday, Feb. 21 as the Evangels swept the home doubleheader 11-0, 8-0. In the opener, the Evangels pushed across nine runs in the first inning before cruising to an 11-run win.
Four Evangels recorded multiple hits, led by Olivia Roberts and Kylie Stubbs, who each went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
McKenzie Smith picked up the win, tossing four shutout innings, giving up no runs on four hits and two walks while two-time NCCAA All-American Regan Martin saw her first action of the season returning from injury, tossing a scoreless fifth while allowing just one hit with a strikeout.
In the nightcap, the Evangels were far more gradual with its run scoring by holding just a 3-0 lead after three. However, MACU pushed across two in the fourth and three in the fifth to close out the eight-run win.
Roberts led the Evangels bats by mashing MACU's first home run of the season, going 1-for-3 with three RBIs and a run. Stubbs and Hannah Salmon also each batted 2-for-2 with a walk.
Sophomore pitcher Adrienne Phillips continued to improve upon her SAC leading earned run average, throwing five scoreless and allowing only five hits while picking up a strikeout.
SCOUTING THE LADY TIGERS
Central Christian comes into the series with a 2-0 record after opening the season with a doubleheader sweep over Southwestern (Kan.) in a pair of 13-10 and 19-8 victories back on Feb. 18.
Leading the Lady Tigers bats in that series was junior infielder Altavia Hall, who batted a perfect 9-for-9 with double, five runs and three RBIs. Junior infielder Jessica Aldana was CCC's big run producer in the series, going 6-for-9 (.667) with three doubles, eight RBIs and four runs scored.
While both Central Christian's starters struggled in the doubleheader, junior reliever Cheyann Sales pitched well in relief in both games, giving up a 2.21 ERA on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work.
HISTORY WITH THE LADY TIGERS
In the NAIA era, Mid-America Christian has dominated Central Christian with a perfect 24-0 record since 2008. In last season's split four-game series, MACU picked up 8-0 and 3-2 home victories on Feb. 22 before pulling away with 5-1 and 12-6 wins in McPherson, Kan. on Apr. 29.
AN ACE IN ADRIENNE
In four appearances and three starts, sophomore starter Adrienne Phillips has been phenomenal in the circle through the first six games of the season. The Little Axe, Okla. native was a spark out of the bullpen last season, but has shined in the starting role, turning in a league-leading 0.82 ERA through 17 innings of work. In limited work last year, Phillips recorded a team-best 1.97 ERA in 21.1 innings pitched over 14 games. Phillips has had incredible command of the strike zone so far in her first two seasons, allowing just two walks combined between 2019 and 2020 so far.
ROBERTS RIPPING IT
Freshman pitcher and first baseman Olivia Roberts continued to swing a steady bat against Southwestern (Kan.). In the two games, Roberts batted 3-for-6 (.500) and bashed MACU's first home run, a two-run blast over the center field fence in the fifth inning of MACU's 8-0 victory over the Moundbuilders. The Evangels cleanup hitter is batting 10-for-20 (.500) for the season while leading the team in extra base hits (3) and is second in RBIs (8).
