OKLAHOMA CITY – The Mid-America Christian softball team struggled to contain the red-hot No. 2 Science & Arts bats as the Evangels dropped both games of a midweek Sooner Athletic Conference doubleheader 9-2, 7-2 against the Drovers at Jack Allen Field on Tuesday.
GAME ONE
Mid-America Christian (10-7, 3-2 SAC) kept it close early as neither team could push a run across in the first two innings, in-part due to some strong defense from Evangels pitcher Regan Martin, who made a phenomenal diving grab on a low-flying popup in the infield and tossed it over to first record a 1-3 double play in the second inning
However, Science & Arts (22-2, 9-0 SAC) broke through in the top of the third when designated player Randa Hatter slammed a two-out, two RBI homer over the left field fence to give the Drovers a 2-0 edge.
The Drovers got another homer in the fourth, a solo shot off the bat of Jolie Romine in the fourth before piecing together a four-run fifth to blow the game open at 7-0.
MACU was able to get a pair of runs back in the bottom of the fifth when junior designated player Faith Hollingsworth led off the frame by blasting her first home run of the season to left to make it a 7-1 game.
Freshman pinch hitter Cailey Parcells pushed one more across later in the inning by slapping an infield single just out of the reach of the pitcher to score Brook Hendrickson to cut the deficit to 7-2.
However, the Evangels couldn't do any more damage against the Drovers as USAO scored two late insurance runs to secure the 9-2 win.
Mid-America Christian scored its two runs off five hits and committed four errors while USAO tallied its nine runs off 12 hits.
Ribbin Dorado was the lone Evangel to record multiple hits in the contest, going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.
Hollingsworth finished the game 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run off her homer to go with a walks while Parcells drove in the other run with a 1-for-1 performance from the plate.
Martin took the loss in the circle, allowing seven runs, five earned on 10 hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
GAME TWO
Mid-America Christian (10-8, 3-3 SAC) once again managed to keep Science & Arts (23-2, 10-0 SAC) off the board early as MACU starter McKenzie Smith was twirling a gem through the first three innings.
The Drovers pushed across the first run in the top of the fourth after the first two batters reached on back-to-back singles. Following a SAC bunt, USAO's Brooke Rains chopped an infield single toward third base to score the runner from third to give the Drovers the 1-0 edge. However, Smith was able to limit the damage to one run by inducing a 1-3 groundout and a strikeout to end the frame.
USAO scored two more unearned runs in the fifth and another unearned run in the sixth to extend their lead to 4-0.
Science & Arts built a 7-0 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh, but the Evangels refused to go down without a fight.
With the bases loaded and one out, Parcells again came up with a two-RBI base hit up the middle to score Hendrickson and Kylie Stubbs, but that would be all the Evangels would be able to muster against USAO.
Mid-America Christian notched its two runs off of five hits with four errors while Science & Arts tallied seven runs off 14 hits.
Dorado once again was the lone Evangel to record multiple hits in the contest, going 2-for-4 with two singles. Parcells drove in two after slashing 1-for-1 from the plate while Hollingsworth reached base three times after going 1-for-1 with a double and two walks.
Despite taking the loss, Smith had a solid outing, allowing four runs, but only one earned on 10 hits with a walk and a strikeout.
The road doesn't get much easier for the Evangels as MACU will head uptown on Friday to take on its second straight top five ranked opponent in No. 5 Oklahoma City. The SAC doubleheader is slated for a 2 p.m. first pitch at Ann Lacy Stadium.
