OKLAHOMA CITY – No. 19 MACU Baseball held Friends scoreless in Tuesday afternoon's 1-0 non-conference midweek game as the Evangels allowed a season-low one hit from the Falcons at the MACU Baseball Field.
 
GAME ONE

SCORE

• Mid-America Christian 1, Friends 0
  • No. 19 Mid-America Christian (11-5)
  • Friends (7-8)

PITCHING DECISION

• Win: Carlos Uribe (2-0)
• Loss: M. Stringer (0-1)
• Save: Liam Taft (7)

TOP PERFORMERS

• Jalen King: 2-2, 2 BB, 2 SB
• Conner Thompson: 2-2, 1 BB
• Carlos Uribe: W, 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO

SCORING SUMMARY

• BTM 2^nd – MACU – Ned Ceklic scored on throwing error – MACU 1, Friends 0

GAME SUMMARY

• Jalen King recorded the first hit in the bottom of the first with a successful bunt down the third base line, beating out the throw for a single. However, consecutive outs left King stranded.
• The Evangels scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the second as MACU rallied with two outs. Ned Ceklic singled through the right-side gap, followed by Conner Thompson single to third base which forced an errant throw for the error. The Falcons third baseman hurled his throw out attempt well over the first baseman's head, allowing Ceklic to score from first on the error.
• In the top of the sixth, Friends looked to score its first run. The Falcons got a lead off runner off a defensive Evangel error. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third. Friends received a second base runner from a walk, then later stole second. However, Ryan Smith on the mound forced a routine ground out to get out of the jam as the Falcons left two runners on base.
• King continued his excellent afternoon with his second hit and the only hit that reached a second base with a double to left center field. However, a pair of outs followed to end the bottom of the eighth.
• Liam Taft came in for the close in the top of the ninth and forced three straight fly outs in just five pitches to save the Evangels 1-0 win.

 
GAME NOTES

• MACU dominated the batter's box by a 6-1 hit margin. Friends one hit tied its season low. MACU defensively notched a season record one hit allowed, beating its previous season low, two hits, in the 5-1 win against Missouri Baptist at the Cajun Collision.
• Carlos Uribe pitched his second win of the season in a designated bullpen game, Uribe pitched four innings, conceding the only hit while striking out two batters and giving up one hit. Liam Taft came in for one inning and retired the three batters he faced. Taft recorded his seventh save of the season, a mark that leads NAIA and moved him to second all-time in MACU Baseball history books. Kelton Lachelt has the all-time record in 2023 season with 10 saves.
• Jalen King and Conner Thompson both recorded two hits as King got on base all four at bats with two walks. Thompson walked once for a three on-base afternoon.
• MACU squared up the all-time record against Friends at 15-15, winning both meetings between the Falcons this season.

 
UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian hits the road to continue Sooner Athletic Conference play after a four-game home stand, as the Evangels face Texas Wesleyan in Fort Worth, Texas starting with a double header on Friday afternoon first pitch at 12:00 p.m.