CHICKASHA, Okla. – After losing a 4-3 heartbreaker in nine innings in the opening game of the twin bill, the MACU softball team rallied for a huge 10-5 win in game two at Bill Smith Ballpark as the Evangels split the season series with No. 9 Science & Arts on Tuesday.
GAME ONE
SCORE
- Science & Arts 4, Mid-America Christian 3 (9 Inn)
- Mid-America Christian (27-12, 12-9 SAC)
- Science & Arts (28-11, 18-5 SAC)
PITCHING DECISION
TOP PERFORMERS
- Mikaylee Allen – 2-2, 3B, HR, 2 RBI, R
- Emylee Campbell – 2-4, 2B, RBI
- Rachel Eggleston – L, 8 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 5 SO
SCORING SUMMARY
- BTM 3rd – MACU – Sophie Williams homered to left, RBI – USAO 1, MACU 0
- BTM 4th – MACU – Sierra Selfridge singled to left, RBI; Taylor Trott scored – USAO 2, MACU 0
- TOP 5th – MACU – Mikaylee Allen homered to left, 2 RBI; Aurelia Holguin scored – MACU 2, USAO 2
- TOP 9th – MACU – Emylee Campbell singled to left, RBI; Kenzee Danielson scored – MACU 3, USAO 2
- BTM 9th – MACU – Sierra Selfridge doubled to left-center, 2 RBI; Jadyn Goucher scored; Isabella Portillo scored – USAO 4, MACU 3
GAME NOTES
- Science & Arts scored its four runs on eight hits while the Evangels scored their three runs on five hits and committed a pair of errors.
- In the low-scoring affair, the Drovers were able to gain the momentum midway through as USAO pitcher Sophie Williams slugged a solo home run in the bottom of the third before Sierra Selfridge smacked a single to left that scored Tyler Trott just before the throw in during the fourth to push the Drovers lead out to 2-0.
- MACU's only threat through the first three innings came when Mikaylee Allen smashed a one-out triple to left just over the outfielder's glove. However, the Evangels were unable to drive her in as Cailey Parsells went down on strikes before Megan Widener grounded into a fielder's choice to end the threat.
- In the top of the fifth, the Evangels were able to change the momentum of the game. With two outs, Aurelia Holguin was able to draw a walk on a full-count before Allen blasted a two-run shot to left to tie it up at 2-2.
- Science & Arts put together another major threat in the bottom of the fifth when Malea McMurtrey singled and Slater Eck reached on a throwing error by the second baseman to put runners at second and third with two outs, but Rachel Eggleston was able to get USAO's top hitter Jaclyn Gray to fly out to center to end the frame.
- The two teams played to extras for the third straight time and in the top of the eighth, MACU was able to move Stormy Haynes over to third with one out, but USAO pitcher Sophie Williams struck out back-to-back batters to keep the Evangels off the board.
- In the bottom of the eighth, Eggleston was able to make a big play of her own by getting Gray to line into a 1-6 double play with the runner getting thrown out returning to second before striking out Trott for the quick inning.
- In the top of the ninth, the Evangels took their only lead of the game at 3-2 when Emylee Campbell smashed a single to left to score Kenzee Danielson from second with one out.
- In the bottom of the ninth, the Drovers were able to walk it off when Jadyn Goucher reached on an error off a sac bunt to put runners at the corners before stealing second. Sierra Selfridge than abruptly ended the game when she dropped a base hit into left-center to plate both runners, end the game at 4-3.
- Mikaylee Allen led the MACU bats, slashing 2-for-3 with a pair of extra-base hits in a triple and home run with two RBIs and a run while Emylee Campbell was the only other Evangel to record multiple hits by slashing 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
- Rachel Eggleston suffered the tough luck loss, allowing four runs, only two earned on eight hits with a walk and five strikeouts.
- Through the first three games of the series, all three games had went to extra innings and each one decided by one run.
GAME TWO
SCORE
- Mid-America Christian 10, Science & Arts 5
- Mid-America Christian (28-12, 13-9 SAC)
- Science & Arts (28-12, 18-5 SAC)
PITCHING DECISION
TOP PERFORMERS
SCORING SUMMARY
- TOP 1st – MACU – Rachel Humburg reached on a throwing error by 3b, Janessa Larman scored; Emylee Campbell scored – MACU 2, USAO 0
- BTM 3rd – USAO – Malea McMurtrey reached on a fielder's choice SAC bunt, RBI; Jadyn Willis scored – MACU 2, USAO 1
- BTM 3rd – USAO – Jaclyn Gray homered to center, 2 RBI; Malea McMurtrey scored – USAO 3, MACU 2
- TOP 4th – MACU – Megan Widener grounded out to ss, RBI; Hallie Wilson scored – MACU 3, USAO 3
- TOP 5th – MACU – Abby Womack grounded out to ss, RBI; Emylee Campbell scored – MACU 4, USAO 3
- TOP 5th – MACU – Hallie Wilson stole second; Stormy Haynes stole home – MACU 5, USAO 3
- TOP 5th – MACU – Mikaylee Allen reached on a fielding error by 2b; Hallie Wilson scored – MACU 6, USAO 3
- TOP 5th – MACU – Cailey Parsells singled to center, RBI; Mikaylee Allen scored – MACU 7, USAO 3
- TOP 6th – MACU – Mikaylee Allen tripled down rf line, 3 RBI; Jess Moore scored; Rachel Humburg scored; Emylee Campbell scored – MACU 10, USAO 3
- BTM 6th – USAO – Tyler Trott homered to left, 2 RBI; Sierra Selfridge scored – MACU 10, USAO 5
GAME NOTES
- Mid-America Christian scored its 10 runs on 11 hits and committed one error while the Drovers scored their five runs on six hits and made two miscues.
- The Evangels broke into the scoring column early by taking advantage of a throwing error by USAO third baseman Jadyn Goucher to score Janessa Larman and Emylee Campbell to give MACU the 2-0 lead in the top of the first.
- The Drovers took their only lead of the contest in the bottom of the third when Jadyn Willis led off with a double to center before coming across to score on a fielder's choice sac bunt by Malea McMurtrey before Jaclyn Gray smashed a two-run homer with two outs to set the score to 3-2.
- The Evangels drew it back even in the top of the fourth when the Evangels put runners at the corners after Hallie Wilson hit a lead-off, pinch-hit double to left before Mikaylee Allen legged out an infield single to third. After a Parsells sac bunt put both runners in scoring position, Megan Widener chopped a grounder to short to score Wilson, evening it at 3-3.
- In the top of the fifth, the Evangels blew the game wide open with a four-run frame. Back-to-back singles by Campbell and Rachel Humburg led up to Abby Womack driving in Campbell from third with a grounder to short, putting MACU in-front for good at 4-3.
- After Hannah Robbins hit a chopper to short to move pinch-runner Stormy Haynes to third and Hallie Wilson drew a two-out walk, the Evangels executed a perfect double steal as Wilson slid in safely to second before Haynes scored easily on the throw, making it a 5-3 game. While Allen reaching on a fielding error by the second baseman allowed Wilson to score, Allen managed to reach home after nabbing second and then scoring on a Parsells single dropped into center field, bringing it to 7-3.
- In the top of the sixth, the Evangels all but put the game out of reach as Campbell, Humburg and Hannah Robbins each drew walks to load the bases. With two outs, Allen ripped her second triple of the game down the right field line, scoring all three on-base to make it a 10-3 game.
- Science & Arts did manage to get two runs back on a Tyler Trott two-run homer to left, but MACU starter Avery Schneringer was able to retire six of the next eight batters to seal the 10-5 victory.
- For the second straight game, Mikaylee Allen and Emylee Campbell led the MACU bats. Allen finished the contest 3-for-4 with a triple, three RBIs and a run scored to go with two stolen bases while Campbell finished 3-for-4 with three runs and a walk.
- Avery Schneringer earned her 11th win of the season in the circle, going the distance by allowing five runs, four earned on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
- Mid-America Christian snapped an incredible streak that the Drovers had coming into the contest. By scoring 10 runs in the win, MACU is the first team to score 10 or more runs against the Drovers in SAC play since Texas Wesleyan pushed across 10 in a 10-8 win on Apr. 6, 2018. The Evangels are also only the second team to notch 10 or more hits against USAO in a game this season as the Drovers only other game where they gave up more than 10 runs and 10 hits came in a 12-6 loss to Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) on Feb. 28.
- For the second time in three years, the Evangels split the season series with the Drovers after both teams went 2-2 during the 2021 season. The win in the finale was the only game in the series not decided by a run as MACU outscored the Drovers 19-15 in the four-game slate.
UP NEXT
- Mid-America Christian will return home on Friday as the Evangels will open Senior weekend at Allen Field with a four-game slate against Southwestern Assemblies of God. The Friday twin bill is slated for a 2 p.m. first pitch.
