OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU softball team will officially open its 2024 season this weekend as the Evangels will be competing at the Southern Collegiate Sports NAIA Invitational being held at the Mesquite Girls Softball Complex in Mesquite Texas.

MACU is slated for a pair of games on Friday against Oklahoma Wesleyan at 12:30 p.m. before taking on York (Neb.) at 2:50 p.m. The Evangels are scheduled to play Benedictine (Kan.) at 12:30 p.m. and Tabor (Kan.) at 2:50 p.m. on Saturday, but there is the possibility of the games being moved due to inclement weather.
 
SEASON PREVIEW

• 2023 Record: 38-19 (20-12 SAC)
• Last Game: Lost vs. (2) Concordia-Ann Arbor (Mich.) – 5-0 – May 17, 2023 – Kansas City, Mo. (NCCAA National Championships)
• Top Returners (Pitching):
  • Rachel Eggleston – R-JR – RHP
    • NCCAA All-American 1^st Team, NCCAA Central Region Player of the Year, All-SAC 1^st Team
    • 21-8 W-L, 1.52 ERA, 31 APP, 28 GS, 17 CG, 7 SHO, 1 SV, 174.2 IP, 124 H, 48 R, 38 ER, 36 BB, 166 SO, .196 OBA
  • Avery Schneringer – SR – RHP
    • All-SAC 2^nd Team
    • 16-6 W-L, 2.89 ERA, 27 APP, 25 GS, 12 CG, 3 SHO, 1 SV, 140.2 IP, 148 H, 73 R, 58 ER, 34 BB, 76 SO, .267 OBA
  • Chana Wolfe – SO – RHP
    • 0-1 W-L, 3.55 ERA, 14 APP, 1 GS, 23.2 IP, 33 H, 15 R, 12 ER, 3 BB, 13 SO, .337 OBA
• Top Returners (Position):
  • Emylee Campbell – JR – UTL
    • All-SAC 1^st Team
    • .319 BA (30-94), 5 2B, 15 RBI, 22 R, 6 BB, 4 HBP, 11 SB, .381 OB%, .372 SLG%
  • Brooklyn Wilson – JR – OF
    • All-SAC Gold Glove Team
    • .269 BA (35-130), 13 2B, 2 HR, 26 RBI, 17 R, 6 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SB, .304 OB%, .415 SLG%
  • Hallie Wilson – JR – OF
    • .234 BA (11-47), 1 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 21 R, 19 BB, 1 HBP, 10 SB, .463 OB%, .468 SLG%
  • Talyn Wheeler – R-SO – C
    • 17 C, 12 PO, 4 A, 1 E, .941 FLD%
• Top Newcomers
  • Kisbel Vizcaya – JR – SS
    • Transfer from Southeastern CC (Iowa)
    • .400 BA (62-155), 14 2B, 4 HR, 32 RBI, 42 R, 4 BB, 15 SB, .419 OB%, .568 SLG%
• Team Notes:
  • Mid-America Christian is coming off its third-straight appearance in the NCCAA World Series where the Evangels advanced to at least the semifinal round in each of those trips, including a National Championship victory in 2021.
  • The program enters the season with a new coaching regime with Head Coach Jim Gasso and Assistant Coach Keilani Tumanuvao in their first year with the program.
  • While the Evangels graduated a lot of talented position players from last year's team, MACU returns a very talented and deep pitching staff that will be headlined by a pair of third-year starters in redshirt junior Rachel Eggleston and senior Avery Schneringer.
  • Last season, Eggleston put together one of the best seasons for a MACU pitcher in program history. Earning the NCCAA Central Region Player of the Year award as well as being a NCCAA First Team All-American and an All-SAC First Team performer, Eggleston set the NAIA Era (2008-present) single season records for wins (21), WHIP (walks + hits per innings pitched) at 0.92, innings pitched (174.2) and shutouts (7). Eggleston also posted the second-lowest earned run average (1.52) and second-most strikeouts (166), as well as top five season marks in opponent batting average (.196, 3^rd) and games started (28, 3^rd).
  • Schneringer is another strong experienced arm in the circle for the Evangels as she is entering her third year as a starter. Over the last two seasons, the senior from Blanchard, Oklahoma has amassed a 32-16 record in the circle with a 3.12 ERA. Schneringer is coming off her best season after going 16-6 with a 2.89 ERA and went the distance in 12 of her 25 starts.
  • The Evangels also have some experienced depth in sophomore righty Chana Wolfe. A year ago, Wolfe amassed a 3.55 ERA over 23.2 innings of work. Wolfe's best outing came in a 3-2 loss to KCAC powerhouse Ottawa. Wolfe tossed 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, allowing no hits and no walks to go with a strikeout.
  • Mid-America Christian will be looking for some new bats to step up for the Evangels in 2024 after graduating most of their top hitters last year. However, MACU does return All-SAC First Team utility player Emylee Campbell. The Blanchard product posted the third-highest batting average (.319) on the team while tallying 15 RBIs and 22 runs to go with 11 stolen bags.
  • MACU also returns one of its top defenders and power bats in junior outfielder Brooklyn Wilson. A year ago, Wilson slashed for a .269 batting average, but of her 35 hits, the Oklahoma City product smashed 13 doubles and a pair of homers for 26 RBIs and 17 runs. On top of a power bat, Wilson brings a tremendous defensive presence in the outfield, earning SAC Gold Glove honors after recording a 1.000 fielding percentage in 77 chances while also nabbing four outfield assists.
  • A player that saw significant playing time the second half of the season, junior outfielder Hallie Wilson will also be looking to contribute more as a starter in 2024. Last season, Wilson batted .234 (11-47), but posted one of the best on-base percentages on the team at .463 on 19 walks while scoring 21 runs and stealing 10 bags as a runner.
  • One player Coach Gasso believes will be a bright spot for MACU this season is redshirt sophomore catcher Talyn Wheeler. The Hinton, Oklahoma native saw limited playing time last year behind a deep catching position, but played very well defensively by tallying 12 putouts and four assists in 17 chances, committing only one error for a .941 fielding percentage.
  • While the Evangels have a smaller recruiting class with just four new players to the squad, the coaching staff is very optimistic about Southeastern Community College transfer Kisbel Vizcaya. Last season, the Venezuelan shortstop was an NJCAA All-Region performer after batting .400 (62-155) while slugging 14 doubles and four homers for 32 RBIs and 42 runs scored. Vizcaya also proved to be dangerous on the base path with 15 stolen bags to go with her power hitting numbers.

SCOUTING REPORT
Oklahoma Wesleyan

• Record: 4-0
• Last Game: Won at Wayland Baptist (Texas) – 10-1 (5 Inn) – Feb. 3, 2024 – Plainview, Texas
• Series vs MACU (2004-): MACU leads 11-10
• Last Game vs MACU: MACU won 6-2 – Mar. 4, 2023 – Oklahoma City (Red Dirt Classic)
• Series Streak: MACU won 3
• Players to Watch (Hitting):
  • Maddy Wiese – JR – OF/P
    • .556 BA (5-9), 1 2B, 1 3B, 7 RBI, 3R, 4 BB, .692 OB%, .889 SLG%
  • Raegan Rector – SO – 1B/OF
    • .538 BA (7-13), 4 2B, 1 3B, 6 RBI, 5 R, 3 BB, .647 OB%, 1.000 SLG%
  • Jess Watson – JR – SS
    • .500 BA (7-14), 2 2B, 6 RBI, 8 R, 3 BB, .588 OB%, .643 SLG%
• Players to Watch (Pitching):
  • Saige Smith – SO – RHP
    • 2-0 W-L, 2.15 ERA, 3 APP, 2 GS, 1 CG, 13.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 15 SO, .174 OBA
  • Maddy Wiese – JR – OF/P
    • 2-0 W-L, 4.38 ERA, 2 APP, 2 GS, 8.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 8 SO, .200 OBA

York (Neb.)

• Record: 0-2
• Last Game: Lost vs. Southwestern Christian (Okla.) – 11-1 (5 Inn) – Feb. 8, 2024 – Mesquite, Texas
• Series vs MACU (2007-): Series tied 2-2
• Last Game vs MACU: MACU won 5-2 – Mar. 2, 2019 – Fort Worth, Texas
• Series Streak: MACU won 1
• Players to Watch (Hitting):
  • Paige Chapman – SO – OF
    • .429 BA (3-7), 2 R, 1 SB, .429 OB%, .429 SLG%
  • Sofia Perez – SR – INF
    • .400 BA (2-5), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R, .400 OB%, 1.000 SLG%
  • Kennedie Anderson – JR – OF
    • .333 BA (2-6), 3 RBI, .333 OB%, .333 SLG%
• Players to Watch (Pitching):
  • Bailey Hardey – JR – LHP
    • 0-1 W-L, 4.67 ERA, 1 APP, 1 GS, 1 CG, 6.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 7 SO, .238 OBA
  • Malia Alvarez – SO – RHP
    • 0-1 W-L, 14.00 ERA, 1 APP, 1 GS, 4.0 IP, 3 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 7 BB, 2 SO, .176 OBA