OKLAHOMA CITY – After picking up a pair of non-conference doubleheader sweeps last week, the MACU softball team returns to Sooner Athletic Conference play on Tuesday as the Evangels will open a four-game series against Southwestern Christian with a doubleheader at Cagle Family Field in Bethany on Tuesday. The first game of the twin bill is slated for 2 p.m.
 
MACU SEASON REPORT

• Record: 20-6 (7-3 SAC)
• Last Game: Won at Southwestern (Kan.) – 22-1 – Mar. 29, 2023 – Winfield, Kan.
• Top Performers (Hitting):
  • Janessa Larman – SR – 3B
    • .442 BA (34-77), 10 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 29 RBI, 13 R, 4 BB, 2 HBP, .465 OB%, .714 SLG%
  • Rachel Humburg – SR – OF
    • .377 BA (23-61), 3 2B, 1 3B, 10 RBI, 10 R, 8 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SB, .451 OB%, .459 SLG%
  • Cailey Parsells – SR – OF
    • .359 BA (23-64), 1 HR, 10 RBI, 25 R, 16 BB, 1 HBP, 21 SB, .488 OB%, .406 SLG%
• Top Performers (Pitching):
  • Rachel Eggleston – SO – RHP
    • 12-2 W-L, 1.63 ERA, 14 APP, 13 GS, 5 CG, 2 SHO, 73.0 IP, 49 H, 18 R, 17 ER, 15 BB, 79 SO, .184 OBA
  • Avery Schneringer – JR – RHP
    • 8-2 W-L, 2.16 ERA, 13 APP, 12 GS, 7 CG, 1 SHO, 71.1 IP, 62 H, 26 R, 22 ER, 25 BB, 43 SO, .232 OBA
• Team Notes:
  • Mid-America Christian will be returning to SAC competition after playing a pair of non-conference doubleheaders against Dallas Christian and Southwestern (Kan.) last week. MACU did also have Kansas Christian on its schedule for Friday, but after playing one inning against the Falcons, the games were abruptly canceled due to high winds.
  • After putting together a big week from the plate, going 8-for-12 (.667) with four doubles, nine RBIs and four runs, senior third baseman Janessa Larman moved to second in the SAC in batting average (.442) while also posting the league's fourth-best slugging percentage (.714).
  • Since March 3, Cailey Parsells has continued to swing a blistering hot bat, raising her batting average from .160 to .359 by recording a team-best .487 batting average over the last 15 games, scoring 20 runs and stealing 13 bags in that stretch.
  • The Evangels pitching staff has continued to impress as two of MACU's pitchers rank in the top four in the SAC in ERA. Rachel Eggleston is currently boasting the league's second-best ERA (1.63) while also notching the third-most wins (12) while Avery Schneringer ranks fourth in ERA at 2.16.

SCOUTING REPORT
Southwestern Christian (Okla.)

• Record: 24-8 (10-8 SAC)
• Last Game: Won vs. Kansas Christian – 5-2 – Apr. 1, 2023 – Bethany, Okla.
• Series vs MACU (2005-): MACU leads 26-11
• Last Game vs MACU: MACU won 5-0 – May 18, 2022 – Kansas City, Mo. (NCCAA World Series)
• Players to Watch (Hitting):
  • Hannah Keele – FR – UTL
    • .439 BA (43-98), 3 2B, 8 3B, 1 HR, 30 RBI, 35 R, 8 BB, 21 SB, .481 OB%, .663 SLG%
  • Megan Vess – SR – INF
    • .433 BA (26-60), 6 2B, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 23 R, 5 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SB, .471 OB%, .683 SLG%
  • Jessie Moralez – FR – UTL
    • .429 BA (30-70), 7 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 19 RBI, 19 R, 3 BB, 2 HBP, 2 SB, .455 OB%, .671 SLG%
• Players to Watch (Pitching):
  • Lauren Schallert – FR – P
    • 12-2 W-L, 2.50 ERA, 15 APP, 10 GS, 5 CG, 67.1 IP, 56 H, 31 R, 24 ER, 17 BB, 69 SO, .211 OBA
  • Harli Clem – JR – P
    • 5-3 W-L, 3.40 ERA, 15 APP, 10 GS, 3 CG, 1 SHO, 55.2 IP, 68 H, 39 R, 27 ER, 13 BB, 34 SO, .291 OBA
• Team Notes:
  • Southwestern Christian is also making its return to SAC play after picking up a 10-2, 5-2 doubleheader sweep over Kansas Christian on Saturday. The Eagles also went 3-3 against SAC competition last week. After being swept at home against No. 8 Oklahoma City on Monday, SCU took three out of four games against Langston.
  • The Eagles come into the series with the SAC's second-highest batting average at .346 while also ranking second in the league in slugging percentage (.504) and third in on-base percentage (.398). Pitching-wise, SCU sits in the middle of the pack in earned run average at fourth with a 3.30 while also ranking sixth in fielding percentage at .931.
  • SCU has three of the best bats in the SAC as Hannah Keele, Megan Vess and Jessie Moralez possess three of the top six averages in the SAC while Keele sits in sixth in the SAC in RBIs (30) and third in runs (35).
  • While the Eagles have a deep pitching staff, a bulk load of the work has been handled by redshirt freshman Lauren Schallert and junior Harli Clem. Schallert has been stellar in her first season of collegiate action, posting a 12-2 record and a 2.50 ERA while Harli Clem is tallying a 3.40 ERA.
  • While MACU leads the all-time series 26-11, the Evangels have dominated the series as of late, winning 16 of the last 17 meetings. The last time the two teams met came at the NCCAA World Series in Kansas City, Mo. on May 18, 2022 as Avery Schneringer tossed a complete game shutout and Janessa Larman went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a home run to lead the Evangels to a 5-0 victory.