EASLEY, S.C. – The top-seeded Mid-America Christian softball team won its first ever NCCAA National Championship in dramatic fashion at the JB "Red" Owens Complex on Thursday.
With the score tied in the bottom of the eighth, sophomore first baseman Olivia Roberts laid down a suicide squeeze bunt that scored Mikaylee Allen from third, propelling the Evangels to a walk-off 3-2 victory over Concordia-Ann Arbor (Mich.) in the NCCAA World Series Championship game.
"This is what we've worked for all season long," said MACU Head Coach Robert Wakefield. "I'm so proud of this team and everything we've accomplished this season. This group of young ladies represented MACU fantastically all week. This has been a special season with a special ending."
Despite not giving up a single run through the first three games of the tournament, Concordia-Ann Arbor jumped out to the early lead over MACU. After the Cardinals leadoff hitter Abbie Begley started the game with a double to right, she was moved down to third on a SAC bunt and then scored on Shannon McAllinden's single just out of the reach of MACU second baseman Shayla Morris.
The Evangels were able to tie it up in the bottom of the third when MACU catcher Camenda Osborn began the frame by hitting her first career homer with the Evangels over the left-center field fence.
Kylie Stubbs followed with a single to left and then trotted down to second after Cailey Parsells put down a SAC bunt, creating another great scoring chance for the Evangels.
However, a controversial call was made when Stubbs was called out for leaving second base early during Allen's at-bat, but on the next pitch, Allen smashed her first career home run that sailed just over the fence down the left field line, giving the Evangels a 2-1 advantage.
Both pitchers cruised through the next two innings, but the Cardinals were able to tie the game up in the top of the sixth as McAllinden hit a two-out solo homer that just went over left-center field fence, just barely out of the reach of the leaping Parsells.
The title tilt ended up going to extra innings and in the top of the eighth, the Cardinals threatened to take the lead when they got a runner down to third with one out after a lead-off double down the left field line by Koryn Playford before being moved on a SAC bunt.
Allen, who had already made an offensive impact, turned in one of the best defensive plays of the tournament during the following at-bat. With McAllinden at the plate, the CCUA center fielder hit a chopper toward the hole at short, but Allen made a back-handed stab with her glove before firing a throw to Osborn to get the fielder's choice tag out at home to keep the game tied at two.
In MACU's half of the eighth, Allen led off the inning with a single to right before recording her 36th stolen base of the year, putting a runner at second with still nobody out. Kassie Martin followed by successfully executing a SAC bunt to move her to third with just one away.
On the game-winning play with an 0-1 count, Roberts squared to bunt on a suicide squeeze play, hitting a light pop-up that fell just barely out of the reach of the diving CUAA third baseman, allowing Allen to score the walk-off run.
Mid-America Christian scored its three runs on six hits and made one error while Concordia-Ann Arbor scored its two runs on seven hits.
The Evangels successfully swept all four of their games during MACU's third trip to the NCCAA World Series and in the process became the first team from the Sooner Athletic Conference to win the championship since it started in 1992.
MACU had a dominant run in the tournament, pitching three complete game shutouts and outscoring the opposition 26-2 for the entire three-day, four-game event.
At the conclusion of the game, Mid-America Christian was awarded the championship plaque and banner while three members of the MACU softball team were named to the NCCAA All-Tournament Team.
Roberts was named the NCCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player while both starting pitchers, Katie Long and Regan Martin, were also named to the all-tournament squad.
"The energy we had coming into the tournament was unmatched," said Roberts. "We picked each other up and played as a team. We have accomplished so much together and it is an honor to be a part of this program. That was one of the memorable games I have ever played in my life. I'm glad I got to experience becoming a national champion with this group of girls."
Long picked up the win in the championship contest, allowing just two earned runs on seven hits with one walks and seven strikeouts. Osborn and Allen led the MACU bats by each going 2-for-3 with a solo home run while Roberts finished 1-for-3 with her walk-off RBI bunt single to go with a walk.
Overall, Mid-America Christian closed out the 2021 season with its most successful year in program history, finishing with a 37-14 (.725) overall record while also turning in its highest winning percentage ever in SAC play by going 21-9 (.700).
