OKLAHOMA CITY – Coming off a huge Sooner Athletic Conference road series win at Oklahoma City, the MACU baseball team will be looking to keep its momentum going in its return home this weekend as the Evangels host Central Christian for a three-game series.
The Evangels will open the slate with a doubleheader on Friday slated for a 1 p.m. start before closing out the series at noon on Saturday at the MACU Baseball Field.
SEASON REPORT
- Record: 13-8 (4-2 SAC)
- Last Game: Won at (RV) Oklahoma City – 18-8 (8 Inn) – Mar. 11, 2024 – Oklahoma City (Jim Wade Stadium)
- Top Performers (Hitting):
- Noel McGarry-Doyle – JR – OF
- .426 BA (29-68), 4 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 18 R, 10 BB, 2 HBP, 4 SB, .513 OB%, .750 SLG%
- Taiga Sakuma – SO – OF
- .417 BA (20-48), 6 2B, 1 3B, 11 RBI, 13 R, 6 BB, 2 SB, .473 OB%, .583 SLG%
- D'Andre Gaines – SO – OF
- .386 BA (27-70), 5 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 25 R, 6 BB, 1 HBP, 4 SB, .442 OB%, .686 SLG%
- Top Performers (Pitching):
- Isaac Baez – SR – RHP
- 5-1 W-L, 2.81 ERA, 6 APP, 6 GS, 32.0 IP, 25 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 9 BB, 42 SO, .207 OBA
- Zane Robeaux – SR – RHP
- 3-0 W-L, 2.95 ERA, 7 APP, 1 GS, 21.1 IP, 18 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 4 BB, 17 SO, .231 OBA
- Cameron Brown – SR – RHP
- 1-0 W-L, 1.69 ERA, 6 APP, 2 GS, 2 SV, 16.0 IP, 12 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 6 BB, 15 SO, .214 OBA
- Team Notes:
- Mid-America Christian is coming off a resilient series victory this past weekend. After splitting the opening doubleheader on Sunday with an 8-3 win and a 9-5 loss, the Evangels found themselves in a big time hole in Monday's rubber match at Jim Wade Stadium. Trailing 5-1 after the first inning and 8-4 following the fifth inning, MACU's bats put together a remarkable three-inning stretch where the Evangels scored 14-unanswered runs, including a 10-run frame in the eighth to come away with the 18-8 victory and secure the 2-1 series win.
- Monday's result marked an incredible first for the program as it marked the first time the Evangels had ever defeated the Stars via a run rule (10 run-lead after seven innings).
- It was an especially special weekend for senior pitchers Isaac Baez and Zane Robeaux. As both pitchers entered the slate tied with MACU legend Keisy Portorreal for the program's NAIA Era (2008-present) career wins record, both pitchers earned their 14th career victory on the mound to both sit atop of the MACU record book.
- The series victory also allowed the Evangels to continue building a big time postseason resume as MACU owns a 7-5 record against team either ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll. In the latest NAIA Poll, MACU is receiving votes in the poll and also rank 16th in the NAIA BoChip RPI rating.
SCOUTING REPORT
Central Christian (Kan.)
- Record: 7-17 (1-5 SAC)
- Last Game: Lost vs. (RV) Kansas Wesleyan – 16-7 – Mar. 12, 2024 – McPherson, Kan.
- Series vs MACU (2004-): MACU leads 21-9
- Last Game vs MACU: MACU won 19-6 (7 Inn) – Mar. 25, 2023 – McPherson, Kan.
- Series Streak: MACU won 4
- Players to Watch (Hitting):
- Justin Taylor – SR – OF
- .417 BA (25-60), 7 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 22 R, 10 BB, 6 HBP, 11 SB, .539 OB%, .617 SLG%
- Carlos Gusman – SO – INF
- .381 BA (24-63), 7 2B, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 19 R, 11 BB, 3 HBP, .487 OB%, .683 SLG%
- Tim Escamilla – SO – OF
- .347 BA (17-49), 4 2B, 15 RBI, 9 R, 5 HBP, 3 SB, .400 OB%, .429 SLG%
- Players to Watch (Pitching):
- Peyton Ramsey – JR – P
- 2-1 W-L, 6.59 ERA, 5 APP, 4 GS, 2 CG, 27.1 IP, 32 H, 23 R, 20 ER, 9 BB, 18 SO, .288 OBA
- Tristan Castner – SR – P
- 1-1 W-L, 9.33 ERA, 5 APP, 3 GS, 1 CG, 18.1 IP, 24 H, 21 R, 19 ER, 11 BB, 13 SO, .316 OBA
- Branta Mikulecky – FR – P
- 1-2 W-L, 9.39 ERA, 6 APP, 3 GS, 15.1 IP, 24 H, 21 R, 16 ER, 16 BB, 7 SO, .343 OBA
- Team Notes:
- Central Christian faced off against Southwestern Assemblies of God in a SAC three-game series this past weekend at home and after stunning the Lions 5-3 in the series-opener, SAGU bounced back with a pair of 18-0 and 22-11 victories. The Tigers also battled Kansas Wesleyan in a non-conference game on Tuesday as the Wildcats pulled away with a 16-7 win.
- The Tigers have struggled from the plate as CCCK ranks last in the SAC in team batting average (.278) and are averaging just 6.5 runs per game. However, MACU will need to be wary of the Tigers on the basepath as Central ranks third in the league in stolen bases (45).
- Central Christian's biggest challenges in 2024 have come on the rubber as the Tigers rank dead-last in the conference in team ERA (13.55), which also ranks as the sixth-worst in the entire NAIA while also ranking last in the conference in strikeouts (138) and second-to-last in K/9 rate (7.51). However, CCCK's defense has not helped matters this season as the Tigers also rank last in the SAC in team fielding percentage (.924).
- Despite their offensive struggles, the Evangels will need to be careful of graduate student transfer from Wayland Baptist in Justin Taylor as well as Carlos Gusman. The tandem has been dynamic bats for CCCK this season as Taylor is batting .417 with a 1.156 OPS with 14 RBIs and 22 runs scored. Gusman has also been a big time bat, slashing .381 with a team-high four homers and 20 RBIs.
- Peyton Ramsey has been Central's most effective pitcher so far in the 2024 season. In five appearances, Ramsey owns a 2-1 record with a 6.59 ERA while tossing two complete games.
- Since the 2008 season, Mid-America Christian has dominated the series against Central Christian as MACU has won 21 of the last 24 meetings. In last season's series played in McPherson, the Evangels outscored the Tigers 44-10 while coming away with 11-2, 14-2 and 19-6 victories.
