OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU Softball team put up a tough challenge to one of the NAIA's top teams in Sooner Athletic Conference leader No. 3 Science & Arts on Saturday afternoon at Allen Field as the Evangels fell 8-2 in game one before dropping a 3-2 decision in the finale.
 
GAME ONE
SCORE

• Science & Arts 8, Mid-America Christian 2
  • Mid-America Christian (13-13, 9-6 SAC)
  • Science & Arts (23-6, 13-2 SAC)

PITCHING DECISION

• Win: Sophie Williams (12-3)
• Loss: Chana Wolfe (5-5)

TOP PERFORMERS

• Kisbel Vizcaya – 1-2, RBI
• Makenzie Thurman – 0-1, R, 2 HBP
• Talyn Lerma – 1-1
• Hallie Wilson – 1-3

SCORING SUMMARY

• TOP 3^rd – USAO – Taygan Graham hit a sac fly to rf, RBI; Jadyn Goucher scored – USAO 1, MACU 0
• TOP 4^th – USAO – Shaylann Grace singled thru left side, 2 RBI; Leighanne Eaton scored; Jordan Ramsey scored – USAO 3, MACU 0
• TOP 5^th – USAO – Shaylann Grace singled thru left side, RBI; Kinzie Williams scored – USAO 4, MACU 0
• BTM 5^th – MACU – Faith Kelley scored on a wild pitch – USAO 4, MACU 1
• BTM 5^th – MACU – Kisbel Vizcaya hit a sac fly to cf, RBI; Makenzie Thurman scored – USAO 4, MACU 2
• TOP 6^th – USAO – Sierra Selfridge homered to center, 4 RBI; Taylor Cronic scored; Maveryck Lightfoot scored; Jaylee Willis scored – USAO 8, MACU 2

GAME SUMMARY

• Both teams struggled to put runners in scoring position through the first two innings before Science & Arts took advantage of a Jadyn Goucher leadoff double down the left field line. After a passed ball moved her down to third, Taygan Graham hit a sac fly to right to bring her in, setting the score to 1-0.
• The Drovers took advantage of a MACU miscue in the top of the fourth to stretch out its advantage as USAO hit three-straight singles after a dropped pop-up at first as Shaylann Grace's two-RBI single through the left side stretched the USAO lead out to 3-0.
• MACU's pitching staff struggled to find the strike zone in the top of the fifth as three of the first four batters reached on walks before Grace hit her second single through the left side of the infield to bring in Kinzie Williams, making it 4-0 game.
• After having difficulties getting baserunners aboard through the first four innings against NAIA All-American pitcher Sophie Williams, the Evangels were able to get to the Drovers ace in the bottom of the fifth as MACU loaded the bases on a Kayten Herman walk, a Makenzie Thurman hit-by-pitch and Talyn Lerma single through the left side with only one away. The Evangels brought one across with pinch-runner Faith Kelley scoring on a wild pitch before Kisbel Vizcaya's sac fly to center plated one more to cut the deficit in-half at 4-2.
• Unfortunately, the rally would be all-for-naught for the Evangels as USAO took advantage of a bases-loaded situation with Sierra Selfridge hammering a two-out grand slam over the center field wall to wrap-up the scoring at 8-2.

GAME NOTES

• Science & Arts scored its eight runs on 11 hits while Mid-America Christian tallied its two runs on three hits and committed an error.
• Of MACU's three hits, Kisbel Vizcaya continued her torrid pace from the plate as she finished 1-for-2 with an RBI sac fly.
• Makenzie Thurman reached base twice on a pair of hit-by-pitches and scored one of MACU's two runs with Faith Kelley coming across on the other. By getting hit by a pair of pitches, Thurman has reached base on 10 hit-by-pitches this season.
• Other two MACU hits were recorded by Talyn Lerma in a pinch-hit situation while Hallie Wilson notched the other knock.
• Chana Wolfe suffered the loss in the circle, allowing four runs, three earned on six hits with no walks and three strikeouts over 4.2 innings of work.
• With the defeat, the Drovers captured the regular season series after sweeping the Friday doubleheader.

GAME TWO
SCORE

• Science & Arts 3, Mid-America Christian 2
  • Mid-America Christian (13-13, 9-7 SAC)
  • Science & Arts (26-6, 14-2 SAC)

PITCHING DECISIONS

• Win: Abi Gregory (2-0)
• Loss: Gia Reynosa (2-5)
• Save: Gabby Toquothty (1)

TOP PERFORMERS

• Kisbel Vizcaya – 2-4, R
• Emylee Campbell – 1-3, RBI, BB, SB
• Hallie Wilson – 0-2, R, 2 BB
• Gia Reynosa – CG, 7 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO

SCORING SUMMARY

• TOP 3^rd – USAO – Sierra Selfridge reached on a throwing error by ss; Taylor Cronic scored – USAO 1, MACU 0
• BTM 3^rd – MACU – Emylee Campbell singled to right center, RBI; Kisbel Vizcaya scored – MACU 1, USAO 1
• BTM 3^rd – MACU – Serena Rodriguez hit a sac fly to cf, RBI; Hallie Wilson scored – MACU 2, USAO 1
• TOP 4^th – USAO – Shaylann Grace homered to center, RBI – MACU 2, USAO 2
• TOP 4^th – USAO – Taygan Graham hit a sac fly to cf, RBI; Jadyn Goucher scored – USAO 3, MACU 2

GAME SUMMARY

• Mid-America Christian managed to put a pair on-base early with Kisbel Vizcaya hitting a leadoff single up the middle before Emylee Campbell drew a walk to batters later to put runners at first and second with only one out, but USAO pitcher Abi Gregory recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat in the bottom of the first.
• After the Drovers' left fielder Taylor Cronic led off the third inning with a double to left center, the Evangels were close to getting out of the jam as Gia Reynosa struck out the next batter before a sac bunt moved Cronic over to third with two away. Unfortunately, a high throw from short to home during Sierra Selfridge's at-bat allowed Cronic to come home to give USAO the 1-0 advantage.
• The Evangels put together a strong response in the bottom of the third as Stormy Haynes led off the frame with an infield single to short before a Hallie Wilson walk and put runners at first and second. Then, Emylee Campbell dropped a flyball single into the right center field gap to tie the game and put runners at the corners.
• During Serena Rodriguez's at-bat, Campbell nabbed second to bait a double-steal attempt to put two in scoring position before Rodriguez's shallow flyball allowed Wilson to score from third on a heads-up baserunning play, making it a 2-1 MACU edge.
• Unfortunately, the Drovers managed to tie it up right away in the top of the fourth on Shaylann Grace's leadoff solo homer to center before pushing the ultimate game-winning run across on Jadyn Goucher's single, advance to third on a speedy baserunning sac bunt by Ashlyn Turner and Taygan Graham's sac fly to left-center following a sensational diving grab by Wilson to make it a 3-2 game.
• Mid-America Christian's best chance to come back came in the bottom of the seventh as Vizcaya started off the frame with a single to center before Wilson drew a walk to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Unfortunately, a sensational defensive play made by the Drovers thwarted the comeback as Campbell lined into an unassisted double play to first before Rodriguez's flyball to center was snared for the final out.

GAME NOTES

• The Drovers scored their three runs on seven hits while the Evangels tallied their two runs on six hits and committed a pair of errors.
• Kisbel Vizcaya recorded two of MACU's six hits, slashing 2-for-4 and scored one of MACU's two runs in the contest.
• Emylee Campbell recorded one of MACU's two RBIs while finishing 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base while Serena Rodriguez notched the other on a sac fly, batting 0-for-2 and drawing a walk as well.
• Hallie Wilson and Makenzie Thurman also reached base safely twice as Wilson finished with a pair of walks while Thurman went 1-for-2 and tallied her third hit-by-pitch of the day.
• By recording her 19^th career hit-by-pitch, Thurman surpassed former MACU great Ashley Sanford for the second-most in program history and now sits only behind former teammate Cailey Parsells for the record. Wilson also made a milestone in MACU's record book as she became just the seventh Evangel to reach base on 40-plus free passes with the 41^st of her three-year Evangels career.
• Gia Reynosa suffered the tough luck loss in the circle as the sophomore starter allowed just three runs, two earned on seven hits with no walks and five strikeouts over seven innings of work in her third complete game of the season.
• By suffering the defeat, the Evangels were swept for the first time in a four-game series this season.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will continue its 10-game home stand next weekend as the Evangels will host Texas Wesleyan for a four-game set at Allen Field. The Evangels will open the series with a doubleheader on Friday evening with the opening game slated for a 4 p.m. first pitch.