OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU Softball team will be getting its 2025 campaign underway this week as the Evangels will be playing five games at the Southern Collegiate Sports NAIA Invitational being played at the Mesquite Girls Softball Complex in Mesquite, Texas from Thursday through Saturday.

The Evangels will open the slate on Thursday with games against Oklahoma Wesleyan at noon and Bethany at 2:30 p.m. MACU will return to action on Friday for a 1:30 p.m. game against Missouri Baptist and a 4 pm contest against Tabor before closing out the event on Saturday at 11 a.m. against British Columbia.
 
SEASON REPORT

• 2024 Record: 37-17 (27-9 SAC)
• Last Game: Lost vs. Dickinson State (N.D.) – 3-2 – May 14, 2024 – Fayette, Mo. (NAIA Tournament)
• Top Returners:
  • Kisbel Vizcaya – SR – INF
    • .331 BA (59-178), 4 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 21 RBI, 36 R, 6 BB, 3 HBP, 23 SB, .362 OB%, .421 SLG%
  • Emylee Campbell – SR – UTL
    • .325 BA (49-151), 2 2B, 5 3B, 3 HR, 22 RBI, 35 R, 16 BB, 3 HBP, 23 SB, .393 OB%, .464 SLG%
  • Brooklyn Wilson – SR – OF
    • .316 BA (50-158), 13 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 36 RBI, 35 R, 17 BB, 1 HBP, 13 SB, .374 OB%, .487 SLG%
  • Chana Wolfe – JR – RHP
    • 11-5 W-L, 3.35 ERA, 19 APP, 13 GS, 4 CG, 1 SHO, 1 SV, 69.0 IP, 75 H, 38 R, 33 ER, 16 BB, 42 SO, .266 OBA
• Key Departures:
  • Rachel Eggleston – SR – RHP
    • 13-5 W-L, 2.11 ERA, 26 APP, 19 GS, 11 CG, 3 SHO, 132.2 IP, 106 H, 45 R, 40 ER, 29 BB, 121 SO, .215 OBA
  • Avery Schneringer – SR – RHP
    • 11-5 W-L, 2.51 ERA, 27 APP, 16 GS, 9 CG, 3 SHO, 2 SV, 114.1 IP, 112 H, 56 R, 41 ER, 34 BB, 79 SO, .246 OBA
  • Morgan Fowble – SR – INF
    • .322 BA (47-146), 8 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 20 R, 6 BB, 9 HBP, 6 SB, .376 OB%, .452 SLG%
• Top Newcomers:
  • Brooke Wyatt – JR – RHP – Connors State (Okla.)
    • 2024 Stats: 22-7 W-L, 2.81 ERA, 34 APP, 30 GS, 26 CG, 7 SHO, 2 SV, 176.2 IP, 185 H, 101 R, 71 ER, .268 OBA
  • Nyssa Dunn – FR – RHP – Permian HS (Texas)
    • 2x All-District, 2x All-State Honorable Mention
  • Madisson Chavez – FR – UTL – Legacy HS (Texas)
    • 2x All-District, Gold Glove
• Team Notes:
  • Entering head coach Jim Gasso's second year at the helm, the MACU Softball team will be looking to build upon a historic 2024 campaign. Last year, the Evangels wrapped up the year with a 37-17 overall record and amassed a program record 27 Sooner Athletic Conference wins, going 27-9 to finish third in the standings.
  • As a result, MACU qualified for its first ever NAIA Tournament appearance and also notched its first tourney win when it defeated No. 15 College of Idaho 4-0 at Cox Softball Complex in Fayette, Missouri on May 14.
  • While the Evangels lost their top two pitchers from last season in Rachel Eggleston and Avery Schneringer to graduation, MACU returns a large portion of its offensive lineup from last season, including All-SAC honorees in Kisbel Vizcaya, Emylee Campbell and Brooklyn Wilson. Entering her third season, Chana Wolfe will be also looking to be more involved after putting together a solid sophomore campaign to collect All-SAC Honorable Mention a year ago.
  • Despite losing two of its best pitchers in program history, the Evangels have some high expectations of two of their incoming arms in Connors State transfer Brooke Wyatt and freshman phenom Nyssa Dunn. Wyatt was an NJCAA All-Region First Team honoree a year ago after putting together a stellar season in the circle for the Cowgirls. Straight out of high school, Dunn will also be looking to be a strong arm for the Evangels in her freshman campaign after a top-tier career at Permian High in Odessa, Texas.

SCOUTING REPORT
Oklahoma Wesleyan

• Record: 3-1
• Last Game: Won vs. Wayland Baptist (Texas) – 10-2 – Feb. 1, 2025 – Bartlesville, Okla.
• Series vs MACU (2004-): MACU leads 12-10
• Last Game vs MACU: MACU won 6-2 – Feb. 9, 2024 – Mesquite, Texas
• Series Streak: MACU won 3
• Players to Watch (Hitting):
  • Maddy Wiese – SR – LHP/OF
    • .556 BA (5-9), 2 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R, 1 BB, .600 OB%, .778 SLG%
  • Alyssa Olivas – SR – INF/OF
    • .417 BA (5-12), 3 2B, 7 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB, .500 OB%, .667 SLG%
• Players to Watch (Pitching):
  • Teri Stanton – SR – RHP
    • 1-0 W-L, 2.17 ERA, 3 APP, 1 GS, 9.2 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO, .278 OBA
  • Mia Van Fleet – FR – LHP
    • 1-0 W-L, 0.00 ERA, 2 APP, 1 SV, 6.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, .167 OBA
• Team Notes:
  • Oklahoma Wesleyan opened its 2025 season at home last weekend as the Evangels hosted MACU's SAC rival Wayland Baptist for a four-game set. OKWU was able to take three out of the four games in the set, splitting the Friday doubleheader with a 9-1 win and a 7-2 loss before dominating the Saturday slate by scores of 12-6 and 10-2.
  • After having a strong hitting team during the 2024 campaign, the Eagles picked up right where they left off in the four-game slate against the Pioneers. Overall, OKWU slashed for a .336 team batting average while averaging 8.3 runs per game in the series. On the pitching side, the Eagles are posting a 3.77 team ERA.
  • The three bats to watch out for in the OKWU lineup are Maddy Wiese, Alyssa Olivas and Carley Billings, who combined this past weekend to hit 14-for-33 (.424) with six doubles, nine RBIs and 14 runs scored between the trio. The Eagles have utilized four different pitchers to start the year, but Teri Stanton has worked the most so far for OKWU, allowing just a 2.17 ERA in three games over 9.2 innings of work.
  • Mid-America Christian will be seeking its fourth-straight win over Oklahoma Wesleyan while Thursday's meeting will mark the second consecutive year the two squads have matched up in the SCS NAIA Invitational. In their previous meeting on Feb. 9, 2024 in Mesquite, the Evangels came away with a 6-2 win as Rachel Eggleston tossed seven strong innings while Brooklyn Wilson slashed 1-for-3 with a two-RBI double as well as scored a run in the win.

Bethany (Kan.)

• 2024 Record: 21-19 (14-12 KCAC)
• Last Game: Lost vs. (RV) Ottawa (Kan.) – 8-0 (5 Inn) – Apr. 26, 2024 – Linsborg, Kan.
• Series vs MACU (2006-): BC leads 8-3
• Last Game vs MACU: BC won 11-9 – Mar. 4, 2017 – Wichita, Kan.
• Series Streak: BC won 1
• Players to Watch:
  • Destiny Espinosa – SR – OF
    • 2024 Stats: .305 BA (40-131), 5 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 25 R, 6 BB, 2 HBP, 3 SB, .345 OB%, .397 SLG%
  • Shantell Evans – SR – C/OF
    • 2024 Stats: .280 BA (33-118), 7 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 17 R, 9 BB, 3 HBP, .344 OB%, .500 SLG%
  • Dylann Baker – SO – P
    • 2024 Stats: 6-7 W-L, 3.01 ERA, 22 APP, 11 GS, 6 CC, 2 SHO, 1 SV, 88.1 IP, 110 H, 46 R, 38 ER, 5 BB, 58 SO, .304 OBA
• Team Notes:
  • Bethany opens its season at the SCS NAIA Invitational this weekend after the team put together a 21-19 campaign in 2024, going 14-12 in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference play to finish ninth in its league standings.
  • Despite losing its top hitter from a season ago, the Swedes return a few strong bats, headlined by senior outfielder Destiny Espinosa, who tallied a .305 average a season ago while Shantrell Evans was the team's RBIs leader with 22. BC also returns one of its top two pitchers in sophomore Dylann Baker, who turned in a 3.01 ERA while striking out 58 batters while issuing just five walks for an incredible 11.1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
  • The Evangels and Swedes will be renewing an old rivalry as the two squads will be playing for the first time since 2017, but faced off 11 times between 2006-17 as Bethany holds the 8-3 edge in the all-time series.

(RV) Missouri Baptist

• 2024 Record: 33-14 (16-2 AMC)
• Last Game: Lost vs. No. 25 Southeastern (Fla.) – 5-4 – May 14, 2024 – Lawrenceville, Ga. (NAIA Tournament)
• Series vs MACU (2023-): Series Tied 1-1
• Last Game vs MACU: MBU won 6-0 – Feb. 18, 2023 – Chickasha, Okla.
• Series Streak: MBU won 1
• Players to Watch:
  • Brooklynn Fischer – SR – P/UTL
    • 2024 Hitting Stats: .430 BA (65-151), 22 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 47 RBI, 44 R, 17 BB, 3 HBP, 4 SB, .497 OB%, .762 SLG%
    • 2024 Pitching Stats: 15-5 W-L, 1.43 ERA, 24 APP, 22 GS, 14 CG, 6 SHO, 122.2 IP, 85 H, 33 R, 25 ER, 31 BB, 137 SO, .189 OBA
  • Abagail Cafolla – SR – UTL
    • 2024 Stats: .365 BA (50-137), 13 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 43 RBI, 34 R, 8 BB, 12 SB, .397 OB%, .496 SLG%
  • Alexandria Cafolla – GR – P
    • 2024 Pitching Stats: 8-8 W-L, 2.88 ERA, 22 APP, 16 GS, 8 CG, 2 SHO, 107.0 IP, 116 H, 52 R, 44 ER, 24 BB, 84 SO, .271 OBA
• Team Notes:
  • Last year's American Midwest Conference regular season champions, Missouri Baptist will start its 2025 season after going 33-14 a year ago with a 16-2 record in AMC play. The Spartans qualified for the NAIA Tournament and lost a pair of nail-biting one-run games to Spring Arbor (Mich.) and No. 3 seed Southeastern (Fla.) 4-3 and 5-4 to close out the season.
  • MBU brings back a lot of its big time talent from last season, including NAIA Third Team All-American pitcher and utility in senior Brooklynn Fischer, who put up astounding hitting and pitching numbers for the Spartans. The Cafolla sister, Abagail and Alexandria have also been excellent pieces for MBU both at the plate and in the circle.
  • Friday's matchup will mark just the third ever meeting between the two programs. The Evangels battled the Spartans in a neutral site doubleheader at Science & Arts on Feb. 18, 2023 as the two teams split as MACU won the opening game 2-1 before falling 6-0 in the finale.

Tabor (Kan.)

• 2024 Record: 24-25 (13-13 KCAC)
• Last Game: Lost vs. Evangel (Mo.) – 6-0 – May 2, 2024 – Great Bend, Kan. (KCAC Tournament)
• Series vs MACU (2004-): MACU leads 8-7
• Last Game vs MACU: MACU won 2-0 – Feb. 9, 2018 – Allen Field
• Series Streak: MACU won 2
• Players to Watch:
  • Darcy Gillen – SR – INF
    • 2024 Stats: .491 BA (80-163), 16 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, 45 RBI, 40 R, 15 BB, 9 SB, .528 OB%, .767 SLG%
  • Cheyenne Washington – SR – 1B
    • 2024 Stats: .350 BA (57-163), 12 2B, 1 3B, 13 HR, 39 RBI, 45 R, 6 BB, 1 HBP, .376 OB%, .675 SLG%
  • Marissa Caranza – SR – LHP
    • 2024 Stats: 10-8 W-L, 4.10 ERA, 25 APP, 23 GS, 18 CG, 2 SHO, 1 SV, 147.0 IP, 209 H, 101 R, 86 ER, 21 BB, 44 SO, .332 OBA
• Team Notes:
  • Tabor will open its 2025 season this weekend as well after being the top hitting team in the KCAC last season. The Bluejays ended the year with a .337 team batting average, but struggled from the circle, ranking third-to-last in the league in team ERA at 5.08 before wrapping up the year with a 24-25 overall record.
  • TC returns the heart of its batting order from a year ago, headlined by NAIA Third Team All-American infielder Darcy Gillen while senior first baseman Cheyenne Washington also put up huge hitting numbers for the Bluejays. Tabor also brings back its best pitcher from last year in Marissa Caranza.
  • Tabor is another former rival of MACU's from the KCAC who the Evangels squared off against 15 times between 2004-18 with Friday's meeting marking the first time the two programs battled each other in six years. MACU holds a slight 8-7 edge in the all-time series with the last contest resulting in a 2-0 victory for the Evangels at Allen Field on Feb. 9, 2018.

British Columbia (Canada)

• 2024 Record: 26-22 (16-11 CCC)
• Last Game: Lost vs. No. 5 Oregon Tech – 9-5 – May 5, 2024 – Klamath Falls, Ore. (CCC Tournament)
• Series vs MACU: First Meeting
• Last Game vs MACU: N/A
• Series Streak: N/A
• Players to Watch:
  • Kaitlyn Kim – SR – INF
    • .371 BA (56-151), 12 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 38 RBI, 30 R, 11 BB, 8 HBP, .439 OB%, .583 SLG%
  • Keona Nordquist – SR – INF
    • .329 BA (50-152), 7 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 23 RBI, 40 R, 23 BB, 2 HBP, 5 SB, .424 OB%, .421 SLG%
  • Carleen Murray – JR – RHP
    • 11-5 W-L, 2.71 ERA, 29 APP, 21 GS, 9 CG, 4 SHO, 111.0 IP, 104 H, 50 R, 43 R, 38 BB, 72 SO, .248 OBA
• Team Notes:
  • Competing in one of the premiere conferences in the NAIA in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, British Columbia will open its season after putting together a solid 2024 campaign, going 26-22 with a 16-11 mark in CCC play.
  • The Thunderbirds return some strong pieces from last year's squad, including two of its top hitters in senior infielders Kaitlyn Kim and Keona Nordquist. UBC also has some strength returning to the circle with its top two pitchers in Carleen Murray and Shae Sever back in the rotation.
  • Saturday's matchup will mark the first ever meeting between Mid-America Christian and British Columbia.