OKLAHOMA CITY – Coming off the program's first ever NCCAA World Series title, the MACU baseball team will be looking to take the next step toward pursing its first Sooner Athletic Conference title as the Evangels will take on No. 5 LSU-Shreveport in a Sunday doubleheader at Pilot Field in Shreveport, Louisiana. MACU will play a pair of nine inning games with the first to start with a 1 p.m. first pitch.
 
LAST SEASON AT A GLANCE

• 2023 Record: 39-17 (15-9 SAC)
• Last Game: Won vs. Southwestern Christian (Okla.) – 3-2 (10 Inn.) – May 23, 2023 – Kansas City, Mo. (NCCAA D-I National Championship Game)
• All-Americans
  • Yan Adames – GR – C
    • NCCAA All-America – Third Team
  • Noel McGarry-Doyle – SO – OF
    • NCCAA All-America – Third Team
• All-Sooner Athletic Conference
  • Isaac Baez – JR – SP
    • All-SAC – First Team
  • Yan Adames – GR – C
    • All-SAC – First Team
  • Noel McGarry-Doyle – SO – OF
    • All-SAC – First Team
  • Kelton Lachelt – R-JR – RP
    • All-SAC – Second Team
  • Carlos Medina – R-SO – SS
    • All-SAC – Second Team
    • Gold Glove Team
  • Andrew Enwiya – SR – DH
    • All-SAC – Second Team
  • Ryan Reed – SR – 2B
    • Gold Glove Team
• Recap
  • Mid-America Christian wrapped up a banner year in 2023 with the program's first NCCAA World Series title after defeating SAC rival Southwestern Christian 3-2 in 10 innings at the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy on May 23. The Evangels won the game on a walk-off RBI single through the left side by Carlos Medina to score Tylor Richey from third with two outs.
  • The Evangels wrapped up the year with a 39-17 overall record, marking the most wins in a single season in program history. MACU also wrapped up Sooner Athletic Conference play with a 15-9 record, making it the winningest season the program had recorded in league play since joining the conference in 2008.
  • Yan Adames and Noel McGarry-Doyle headlined the Evangels as a pair of NCCAA Third Team All-American selections. The Evangels also had a record six players (Adames, McGarry-Doyle, Isaac Baez, Kelton Lachelt, Carlos Medina and Andrew Enwiya) garner All-SAC Honors while Medina and Ryan Reed were SAC Gold Glove recipients.

2024 SEASON PREVIEW

• Top Returners (Position)
  • Noel McGarry-Doyle – JR – OF
    • .389 BA (63-162), 11 2B, 5 3B, 11 HR, 50 RBI, 62 R, 29 BB, 19 HBP, 14 SB, .519 OB%, .722 SLG%, 1.241 OPS
  • Carlos Medina – R-JR – SS
    • .341 BA (58-170), 17 2B, 5 HR, 32 RBI, 27 R, 14 BB, 5 HBP, .397 OB%, .529 SLG%, .926 OPS
  • Jacob Police – R-SO – 2B/OF
    • .243 BA (25-103), 6 2B, 1 HR, 19 RBI, 33 R, 6 BB, 8 HBP, 13 SB, .322 OB%, .330 SLG%, .652 OPS
• Top Returners (Pitchers)
  • Isaac Baez – SR – SP
    • 9-3 W-L, 4.50 ERA, 16 GP, 16 GS, 86.0 IP, 2 CG, 2 SHO, 12 BB, 93 SO, .304 OBA
  • Kelton Lachelt – R-SR – RP
    • 5-1 W-L, 3.00 ERA, 21 GP, 33.0 IP, 10 SV, 3 BB, 19 SO, .285 OBA
  • Cameron Brown – SR – SP
    • 7-8 W-L, 4.47 ERA, 16 GP, 15 GS, 88.2 IP, 28 BB, 84 SO, .246 OBA
• Top Newcomers (Position)
  • D'Andre Gaines – SO – OF – Marin (Calif.)
    • 2023 Stats: .342 BA (52-152), 9 2B, 7 3B, 5 HR, 18 RBI, 39 R, 22 BB, 22 SB, .433 OB%, .592 SLG%, 1.025 OPS
  • Kyle Williams – JR – OF – Cisco (Texas)
    • 2023 Stats: .335 BA (52-155), 12 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 40 RBI, 40 R, 23 BB, 9 SB, .427 OB%, .497 SLG%, .924 OPS
  • Zachary Stark – JR – C – Williston State (N.D.)
    • 2023 Stats: .327 BA (48-147), 12 2B, 4 HR, 32 RBI, 36 R, 28 BB, .448 OB%, .490 SLG%, .939 OPS
  • Marcus Burton – JR – 1B – Southwestern (Kan.)
    • 2023 Stats: .365 BA (58-159), 12 2B, 3 3B, 6 HR, 45 RBI, 40 R, 15 BB, 13 SB, .437 OB%, .591 SLG%, 1.028 OPS
  • Anthony Hampton – JR – 3B – Genesee (N.Y.)
    • 2023 Stats: .393 BA (53-135), 11 2B, 5 3B, 1 HR, 19 RBI, 57 R, 24 BB, 33 SB, .491 OB%, .570 SLG%, 1.061 OPS
• Top Newcomers (Pitchers)
  • Devan Quesada – SR – SP – Academy of Art (Calif.)
    • 2023 Stats: 4-3 W-L, 4.95 ERA, 12 GP, 11 GS, 2 CG, 60.0 IP, 19 BB, 42 SO, .235 OBA
  • Jordan Smith – JR – SP – Modesto JC (Calif.)
    • 2023 Stats: 5-2 W-L, 4.65 ERA, 17 GP, 3 GS, 3 SV, 62.0 IP, 7 BB, 42 SO, .277 OBA
  • Breyllin Suriel – JR – RP – Western Oklahoma State
    • 2023 Stats: 5-6 W-L, 6.40 ERA, 21 GP, 8 GS, 52.0 IP, 21 BB, 51 SO
  • Carlos Escobosa – JR – RP – Southeastern CC (Iowa)
    • 2023 Stats: 5-4 W-L, 4.40 ERA, 12 GP, 11 GS, 1 CG, 61.1 IP, 31 BB, 61 SO, .268 BA
• Overview (Pitching)
  • One of the biggest strengths for the Evangels entering the 2024 will be its pitching as MACU is returning most of its pitching talent from last season, including its top four starting pitchers in Isaac Baez, Cameron Brown, Zane Robeaux and Ryan Harney as well as its closer in Kelton Lachelt.
  • As an All-SAC First Team honoree in 2023, Baez put together a remarkable first season for the Evangels as he tied MACU legend Keisy Portorreal for the most wins in a single season (9) as well as games started (16) while also setting NAIA Era (2007-) Top 10 marks in shutouts (2, 4^th), innings pitched (86, 5^th) and strikeouts (93, 6^th).
  • Another starter who had a breakout season in his third year with the Evangels was Brown. The junior hurler logged the most innings for MACU in 2023 as his 88.2 frames pitched were the third-most in the NAIA Era while also setting top 10 marks in wins (7, 4^th), games started (15, 3^rd), strikeouts (84, 9^th) and WHIP (1.25, 9^th). The Blanchard, Oklahoma native saved his best of the season for last as he was named to the NCCAA World Series All-Tournament Team after picking up a pair of wins over Fort Lauderdale and Southwestern Christian, allowing just four earned runs over 15 innings pitched while giving up only 12 hits and two walks while striking out 10 batters.
  • The Evangels will return a well-spring of talent to the pen as well, headline in its closer with Lachelt. Last season, Lachelt became the first MACU pitcher in program history to log 10 saves, shattering the previous single-season record. Lachelt also posted single-season top 10 marks in ERA (3.00, 9^th), WHIP (1.21, 8^th), games pitched (21, 5^th) and wins (5, 9^th).
  • Robeaux and Harney also provide some strong experience for MACU. Last season, Robeaux started off the season as one of MACU's featured starters through his first five starts before an elbow injury against Southwestern (Kan.) on Feb. 25 sidelined the right-handed hurler for two-and-a-half months. The Mustang, Oklahoma native made his return from injury in the SAC Tournament and the NCCAA World Series. Despite missing significant time, Robeaux still put together a banner year statistically, recording NAIA Era top 10 performances in ERA (2.94, 6^th), opponent batting average (.208, 7^th) and WHIP (1.07, 4^th). Meanwhile, Harney notched marks in the book for game started (15, 3^rd), complete games (4, 7^th), innings pitched (87.1, 4^th) and wins (8, 4^th).
  • While MACU was already strong in the pitching department, the Evangels got even stronger with their incoming class. Senior righty Devan Quesada comes to MACU after pitching for NCAA Division II Academy of Art and is expecting to make a strong impact in the starting rotation. Last season at AA, Quesada posted a solid 4.95 ERA in 12 games and 11 starts as he walked just 19 batters and struck out 42 in 60 innings of work.
  • MACU also added a solid lefty from California in junior Jordan Smith, a transfer from Modesto Junior College. Last season, Smith posted a 4.65 ERA over 62 innings while incredibly walking just seven batters and striking out 42.
  • The Evangels also expect to get some strong production out of the pen from junior righties Breyllin Suriel and Carlos Escobosa. Last year at Western Oklahoma State, Suriel struck out 51 batters in 52 innings of work while Escobosa posted a strong 4.40 ERA in 61.1 innings while also striking out a high volume at 61 at Southeastern Community College (Iowa).
• Overview (Position)
  • Even though MACU lost a sizable amount of its hitting production from last season, the Evangels still return two of their top players from last season in junior outfielder Noel McGarry-Doyle and junior shortstop Carlos Medina.
  • Overall, McGarry-Doyle put together one of the best seasons a MACU batter has ever put together for the Evangels in the NAIA Era, hitting a mark in almost every NAIA Era single-season top 10 category. Those marks include: batting average (.389, 7^th), slugging percentage (.722, 4^th), on-base percentage (.519, 3^rd), OPS (1.241, 3^rd), triples (5, 1^st), home runs (11, 8^th), RBIs (50, 5^th), total bases (117, 5^th), runs (62, 2^nd), walks (29, 6^th), hit-by-pitch (19, 2^nd) and stolen bases (19).
  • On top of being a great bat for MACU, Medina also put together a legendary defensive season at the shortstop position. From the plate, Medina slashed for a .341 batting average while slugging the fourth-most doubles in the NAIA Era (17). On the defensive side, the Apple Valley, California product recorded the second-most assists in a season (135) and the ninth-most double plays turned (18). What was even more remarkable was Medina committed just three errors in 199 chances for an astounding .985 fielding percentage and had a perfect fielding percentage through his first 149 chances of the year.
  • The Evangels are adding a well-spring of offensive talent, headlined by a pair of outfielders in D'Andre Gaines and Kyle Williams.
  • Gaines, a transfer from College of Marin (Calif.), boasted a stellar 1.062 OPS last season. On-top of being a very productive hitter, Gaines was a dynamic player on the basepath, finishing the season with 39 runs and stole 22 bases. Meanwhile, Williams brings in a bat that slashed for a .335 average at Cisco College (Texas) and was a strong run producer by driving in 40 RBIs while 17 of his 52 hits were the extra-base variety, including 12 doubles.
  • MACU also inked some sensational pieces in the infield as first baseman Marcus Burton and third baseman Anthony Hampton are looking to produce at the corners. Competing last season at Southwestern (Kan.), Burton put up big numbers in the KCAC, slashing for a 1.028 OPS with 45 RBIs and 40 runs scored for the Moundbuilders. Hampton makes his way to MACU from Genesee Community College (N.Y.), where he put up a monstrous 1.061 OPS that featured a .393 batting average. Last season, Hampton proved to be a tough out on the basepath as he scored an astounding 57 runs and stole 33 bases.
  • Even though MACU lost one of its best players ever in program history in Adames from behind the plate, the Evangels brought in some stellar catching talent, headlined by junior Zachary Stark. A transfer from Williston State (N.D.), Stark put together a very solid .448 on-base percentage while driving in 32 RBIs and scoring 36 runs.

SCOUTING REPORT
No. 5 LSU-Shreveport

• 2023 Record: 47-10 (27-3 RRAC)
• Last Game: Lost vs. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) – 7-6 – May 18, 2023 – Shreveport, La. (NAIA Opening Round – Championship)
• Series vs MACU: First Meeting
• Last Game vs MACU: N/A
• Series Streak: N/A
• Players to Watch (Hitting):
  • Josh Gibson – JR – INF
    • 2023 Stats: .393 BA (53-135), 16 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 28 RBI, 51 R, 40 BB, 14 SB, .541 OB%, .570 SLG%, 1.111 OPS
  • Vantrel Reed – JR – INF
    • 2023 Stats: .371 BA (69-186), 13 2B, 5 3B, 6 HR, 46 RBI, 55 R, 19 BB, 18 SB, .452 OB%, .591 SLG%, 1.043 OPS
  • AJ Fritz – SR – UTL
    • 2023 Stats: .358 BA (58-162), 20 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 54 RBI, 38 R, 24 BB, 13 SB, .436 OB%, .586 SLG%, 1.022 OPS
• Players to Watch (Pitching):
  • Chase Guitreau – JR – RHP
    • 2023 Stats: 2-0 W-L, 2.30 ERA, 25 GP, 3 GS, 47.0 IP, 12 BB, 47 SO, .205 OBA
  • Alex Gonzalez – SR – LHP
    • 2023 Stats: 2-1 W-L, 2.75 ERA, 30 GP, 36.0 IP, 6 BB, 37 SO, .154 OBA
• Team Notes:
  • LSU-Shreveport is coming off a stellar 2023 season where the Pilots amassed a 47-10 overall record and hosted an NAIA Opening Round. After suffering a 6-4 loss to MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) to open the tourney on May 15, LSUS was able to overcome the tough start by recording three-straight victories over McPherson (Kan.), Morningside (Iowa) and a revenge win over MidAmerica Nazarene to set up a "winner-take-all" championship game on May 18. However, the Pilots great season came to a bitter end when LSUS gave up a pair of runs in the top of the ninth as the Pioneers advanced to the NAIA National Championship final site with the 7-6 victor.
  • Last year, LSU-Shreveport was not just a great hitting team, but also a phenomenal pitching squad. The Pilots ranked fifth in the NAIA in batting average (.352) while boasting the second-best team ERA (3.10) in the nation to go with the third-most strikeouts (527) and led the NAIA in WHIP (1.11).
  • Offensively, the Pilots did lose All-American slugger Ryan Major, but bring back a well-spring of hitting talent, headlined by Josh Gibson, Vantrel Reed and AJ Fritz, who all posted above 1.000 OPS for LSUS a year ago.
  • Even though the Pilots lost all of their starting pitching talent, LSUS does bring back some very good pieces from their pen in junior righty Chase Guitreau and senior lefty Alex Gonzalez. Both pitchers threw for more than 35 innings while posting a sub-2.75 ERA with excellent command.
  • Sunday's contests will mark the first ever meeting between LSU-Shreveport and Mid-America Christian.