OKLAHOMA CITY – No. 19 MACU Baseball trailed 5-0 after the third inning, but stormed back in front 6-5, from Nick Hill's two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh in the Evangels win over Southwestern Christian in the Sooner Athletic Conference opener at the MACU Baseball Field.     
 
GAME ONE

SCORE

• Mid-America Christian 6, Southwestern Christian 5
  • No. 19 Mid-America Christian (9-4, 1-0 SAC)
  • Southwestern Christian (11-3, 0-1 SAC)

PITCHING DECISION

• Win: Byron Madero (2-0)
• Loss: A. Paredes (1-1)
• Save: Liam Taft (6)

TOP PERFORMERS

• Byron Madero: W, 6.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 10 SO
• Nick Hill: 2-4, 2 HR, 5 RBI
• Frankie Giacalone: 2-3, 1 BB
• Liam Taft: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO, S

SCORING SUMMARY

• TOP 1^st – SCU – A. O'Malley homered to right center, 3 RBI' D. Paredes and R. Florenzano scored – MACU 0, SCU 3
• TOP 3^rd – SCU – D. Paredes homered to right center, RBI – MACU 0, SCU 4
• TOP 3^rd – SCU – D. Ornelas homered to right center, RBI – MACU 0, SCU 5
• BTM 3^rd – MACU – Nick Hill homered to right center, 3 RBI; Jalen King and Sammy Hallada scored – MACU 3, SCU 5
• BTM 6^th – MACU – Tuane Cope homered to right field, RBI – MACU 4, SCU 5
• BTM 7^th – MACU – Nick Hill homered to left center, 2 RBI; Jalen King scored – MACU 6, SCU 2

GAME SUMMARY

• Southwestern Christian quickly had two runners on in the top of the first through consecutive walks. The Eagles converted on all three runs with a three-run home run for a quick 3-0 lead.
• The Eagles extended their lead in the top of third with two more solo shot home runs. Byron Madero took over on the mound striking out his first two batters, before conceding the fifth run as the Evangels trailed 5-0.
• MACU had the immediate answer in the bottom of the third with two outs, Sammy Hallada singled and Jalen King walked. Up stepped Nick Hill who sent one deep over the right center wall to spring the Evangels offense to life, cutting the lead down to 5-3.
• In the bottom of the sixth inning, with two outs again, Tuane Cope hit his first home run of the season down the right field side over the wall. Cope's solo home run trimmed the lead to just one run at 5-4.
• MACU took its first lead in the bottom of the seventh with two outs, Jalen King reached first base from a short stop error. Nick Hill sent his second homer of the night over the left center wall for a two-run homer to surge the Evangels in front at 6-5. The Evangels loaded the bases after the home run, starting with Frankie Giacalone's single and a pair of walks. However, the third out came shortly after to close out the inning.
• In the top of the ninth, Liam Taft took over the mound duties looking for the save. Taft struck out the lead off man but then surrendered a single. However, the next batter hit into a routine 6-4-3 double play to end the game, giving Taft his sixth save of the season and extended the MACU win streak to nine.

 
GAME NOTES

• MACU outhit SCU by a 7-4 margin, while both teams committed one error. Both teams in three home runs apiece in a home run derby feeling game.
• Byron Madero took over mound duties for the Evangels in relief in the third inning and pitched six innings, tying his season-high 10 strikeouts. Madero allowed just one run, while walking four batters. Liam Taft came on in the top of the ninth and recorded his sixth save of the season with one strikeout and forced the hitter into a game ending double play.
• Nick Hill blasted two home runs for a team-high five on the season. Hill was responsible for five of the Evangels' six runs, while Tuane Cope hit his first home run in a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth. Frankie Giacalone had an efficient 2-3 night inside the box.