Men's Basketball | Mid-America Christian 94, No. 8 SW Assemblies of God 91
WAXAHACHIE, Texas – The No. 4 seeded Mid-America Christian men's basketball team kept its Sooner Athletic Conference Championship aspirations alive on Saturday night as the Evangels rallied from 17-points down in the second half to come away with a 94-91 victory over top-seeded and nationally No. 8 ranked Southwestern Assemblies of God.
Despite being without unanimous All-SAC First Team starting forward Terrance Jones, the Evangels got some big time production from its bench as Caleb Riggs poured in a career-high 27 points, going 10-for-16 from the field and 7-for-11 from behind the three-point arc. Malik Malone also played a significant role in the MACU comeback, scoring all 18 of his points during the final 13:37, converting on 6-of-8 shooting and going 3-for-4 from the three-point arc to go with a team-high eight rebounds.
With 1:47 remaining, Tony Dorsey found Derrick Magiya open on the right wing as he buried the go-ahead three-pointer to give MACU the 89-88 edge. The Evangels defense came up with a pair of big defensive stops down the stretch as the Evangels put the game away from the free throw line by knocking down five of their last six attempts to take a six-point lead before SAGU hit a three at the buzzer to finish out the 94-91 win.
Mid-America Christian will face off against No. 2 seed and nationally 11th-ranked Science & Arts in the SAC Championship game being played in Chickasha, Okla. on Tuesday. Tip-off for the contest is slated for 7 p.m. inside the USAO Fieldhouse.
Women's Soccer | Mid-America Christian 2, Texas Wesleyan 1
FORT WORTH, Texas – The Mid-America Christian women's soccer team had rarely found itself trailing all season, but after giving up the go-ahead goal in the first half, the Evangels rallied as a pair of second half scores to allow MACU to come away with a 2-1 road win at Texas Wesleyan on Saturday.
In helping the Evangels improve to 8-1 overall and 2-0 in SAC play this season, Kelsey Henry, coming off a three-goal game at Southwestern Assemblies of God on Tuesday, spurred the comeback by putting in the equalizer in the 59th minute. After being the team's leading goal scorer in just three games during the fall, Liz Lozano made a huge impact once again by putting across the game-winning goal in the 73rd minute.
Mid-America Christian will be preparing for its first ever home night soccer match on Tuesday, Mar. 2 as the Evangels will host Central Christian for a 5 p.m. kickoff at the newly named Mike and Helen Dill Soccer Complex.
Men's Soccer | Mid-America Christian 4, Texas Wesleyan 0
FORT WORTH, Texas – After battling to a scoreless tie at the half, the Mid-America Christian men's soccer team came out in the second half on-fire, scoring all four of its goals over the final 37 minutes of regulation to come away the 4-0 victory against Texas Wesleyan on Saturday.
Junior forward Rodrigo Albuquerque made history in the win as his incredible shot that slipped inside the right post in the 54th minute moved him to the top of MACU's record book for the most game-winning goals in a single season with seven. The other three Evangels goals were netted by Endri Copa (70:18), Thiago Viana (76:58) and Mason Gonzalez (83:38).
After improving to 8-1 overall and 2-0 in Sooner Athletic Conference play, the Evangels will be ready for their SAC home opener on Tuesday night as MACU hosts Central Christian in the program's first ever home night game. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at the Mike and Helen Dill Soccer Complex.
Softball | G1 – Oklahoma Wesleyan 4, Mid-America Christian 3; G2 – MACU 9, OKWU 5
OKLAHOMA CITY – After having its first six home doubleheaders either canceled or postponed due to inclement weather during the month of February, the Mid-America Christian softball team was finally able to get its season underway with a rescheduled home doubleheader against Oklahoma Wesleyan on Saturday. While the Evangels ran into some tough luck in the first game, falling to the Eagles 4-3, MACU was able to pick up its first win of the season in a 9-5 victory in the second game.
In the first game, senior right fielder Faith Hollingsworth led the MACU bats, going 3-for-3 with a single, a double and a home run, scoring a pair of runs and an RBI off the solo shot to right field in the second inning. Despite pitching well, senior starter Katie Long took the loss after allowing three runs, one earned on seven hits with two walks and seven strikeouts over five innings of work.
The Evangels wouldn't need a comeback in game two after the team scored seven runs in the second inning and held off an Eagles comeback to secure its first win of the season. Despite not having her best outing, senior starter Regan Martin picked up her first win of the season after allowing four runs on nine hits with four walks and three strikeouts over five innings. MACU got some strong production from the pen as freshman Rachel Eggleston worked the last two innings and allowed only one unearned run on two hits and two walks while striking out four batters.
Kylie Stubbs, Kassie Martin and Olivia Roberts each finished with two hits apiece in game two, as Stubbs led the way with three RBIs and a run scored in the victory.
Mid-America Christian will return to action on Tuesday, Mar. 2 as the Evangels will travel to Winfield, Kan. for a doubleheader against Southwestern College. The games are scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. starts.
Baseball | G1 – Mid-America Christian 2, Evangel 0; G2 – EU 10, MACU 2
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Mid-America Christian baseball team won a thriller in its home opener on Friday, as Andres Gonzalez came up with the clutch go-ahead single in the bottom of the fifth and Payton Walk added to it with an RBI double to left field to help the Evangels come away with a 2-0 win over Evangel before it dropped game two by a score of 10-2.
In the opening game, junior starter Brad White tossed his second complete game shutout in just his third start of the season, allowing only eight hits with no walks to go with nine strikeouts in the victory. With the shutout win, the Houston, Texas product became just the second pitcher to ever record multiple complete game shutouts in a single season, with the other being the SAC Pitcher of the Year in Keisy Portorreal, who recorded four during the 2018 season.
However, the Evangels ran into some tough luck in game two as it could only muster a pair of runs off three hits in a 10-2 loss to the Crusaders.
Mid-America Christian will be back in-action on Tuesday, Mar. 2 as the Evangels will host Northwestern (Iowa) for a nine-inning game. The opening pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at James Curtis Field.
Volleyball | MidAmerica Nazarene 3, Mid-America Christian 0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-15)
OLATHE, Kan. – Playing its third match in six days, the Mid-America Christian volleyball team faced a tough road test on Saturday, falling in straight sets to MidAmerica Nazarene 25-17, 25-17, 25-15.
Senior outside hitter Hanna Foecker had an outstanding match in the attack, registering 17 kills on a .267 attack percentage while also getting 13 digs in the defense while Morgan Van Meir finished with 29 aces and Maegan Plunk notched 14 digs in the defense.
Mid-America Christian will look to get back on the winning track on Wednesday, Mar. 3 as the Evangels will host a 6 p.m. match with the University of the Southwest.
