OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU softball team put together two more very strong performances on the last day of the Hosea Bell Red Dirt Classic at the USA Softball Hall of Fame on Saturday as the Evangels defeated red-hot Oklahoma Wesleyan 6-2 before dropping a hard-fought 3-2 contest to KCAC powerhouse Ottawa (Kan.).
Mid-America Christian vs. Oklahoma Wesleyan
SCORE
- Mid-America Christian 6, Oklahoma Wesleyan 2
- Mid-America Christian (9-2)
- Oklahoma Wesleyan (14-3)
PITCHING DECISION
TOP PERFORMERS
SCORING SUMMARY
- TOP 4th – MACU – Rachel Humburg singled to right, RBI; Mikaylee Allen scored – MACU 1, OKWU 0
- BTM 4th – OKWU – Ashlyn Teran doubled to right-center, RBI; Jess Watson scored – MACU 1, OKWU 1
- TOP 5th – MACU – Mikaylee Allen singled to ss, RBI; Karlee Danielson scored – MACU 2, OKWU 1
- TOP 5th – MACU – Janessa Larman singled to center, RBI; Megan Widener scored – MACU 3, OKWU 1
- TOP 5th – MACU – Olivia Roberts hit a sac fly to rf, RBI; Cailey Parsells scored – MACU 4, OKWU 1
- BTM 6th – OKWU – Kylee Erickson grounded out to ss, RBI; Jess Watson scored – MACU 4, OKWU 2
- TOP 7th – MACU – Janessa Larman singled up the middle, 2 RBI; Cailey Parsells scored; Megan Widener scored – MACU 6, OKWU 2
GAME NOTES
- Mid-America Christian scored six runs on 10 hits while Oklahoma Wesleyan tallied two runs on seven hits and committed an error.
- While the Evangels struggled to get the power bats going against OKWU starter Salem Liebenthal, mustering just one extra-base hit, the Evangels were able to put the ball in-play often by tallying 10 hits and a sacrifice fly.
- The top of the order produced big time for MACU in the contest, as Cailey Parsells, Mikaylee Allen and Janessa Larman combined to bat 6-for-11 (.545) with four RBIs and three runs scored.
- Larman in-particular continued to be MACU's hottest bat, slashing 2-for-4 with a season-high three RBIs.
- Rachel Eggleston notched her sixth win of the season in the circle, improving to 6-1 after allowing just one earned run on two hits with three walks and three strikeouts over four innings of work. Avery Schneringer also earned her first save of the season, tossing three innings and also allowing only one earned run on five hits with a walk.
- With the win, Mid-America Christian took the lead in the all-time series from OKWU 11-10 and have won three straight since 2021.
Mid-America Christian vs. Ottawa (Kan.)
SCORE
- Ottawa 3, Mid-America Christian 2
- Mid-America Christian (9-3)
- Ottawa (12-3)
PITCHING DECISION
TOP PERFORMERS
SCORING SUMMARY
- BTM 1st – OTT – Allison Kearney bunt singled to 1b, RBI; Riley Newbold scored – OTT 1, MACU 0
- TOP 2nd – MACU – Megan Widener reached on a fielding error by 3b, RBI; Emylee Campbell scored – MACU 1, OTT 1
- BTM 2nd – OTT – Cierra Faubion stole second; Kelcie Kippes stole home – OTT 2, MACU 1
- BTM 2nd – OTT – Katie Enneking singled down rf line, RBI; Cierra Faubion scored – OTT 3, MACU 1
- TOP 7th – MACU – Janessa Larman doubled to left-center, RBI; Mikaylee Allen scored – OTT 3, MACU 2
GAME NOTES
- Ottawa scored three runs on seven hits and committed an error while the Evangels scored their two runs on five hits.
- Facing the ace of the KCAC Preseason favorite, the Evangels were able to make some strong contact against the Braves aces Kelcie Kippes, but MACU lined into multiple outs while behind held to five base knocks.
- Once again, Janessa Larman proved to be the big bat in the MACU lineup, slashing 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, including a two-out RBI two-bagger to left-center that scored Mikaylee Allen from first to close it to a 3-2 game. The Evangels had an opportunity to tie when cleanup hitter Olivia Roberts came to the plate, but she grounded out to third to end the nailbiting contest.
- Getting her first start of the season, Harley Beesley went 3.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with no walks and one strikeout, but ended up suffering the loss in the low-scoring affair.
- The Evangels got another sensational relief appearance from freshman Chana Wolfe, who tossed 2.1 perfect innings, with no hits or walks to go with one strikeout. As a result, Wolfe has now lowered her season ERA to 1.11 over 6.1 innings of relief.
- The loss snapped MACU's five-game win streak while also suffering its first ever loss against Ottawa.
- The Evangels finished the Red Dirt Classic with a 3-1 record for the second straight year.
UP NEXT
- Mid-America Christian will be back at home on Wednesday, Mar. 8 for a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Ecclesia (Ark.) at Allen Field before opening Sooner Athletic Conference play on Friday, Mar. 10.
