OKLAHOMA CITY – No. 19 MACU Baseball saw more program history as Nick Hill blasted his 17^th home run of the season to eclipse the single season home run record in a 3-1 victory in game one over Science & Arts. However, the Evangels fell in game two of the series after conceding four runs in the final two innings in a 4-3 contest.  
 
GAME ONE

SCORE

• Mid-America Christian 3, Science & Arts 1
  • No. 18 Mid-America Christian (32-10, 19-6 SAC)
  • Science & Arts (18-21, 12-13 SAC)

PITCHING DECISION

• Win: Ibrahim Gonzalez (8-2)
• Loss: Tyson Noel (4-5)

TOP PERFORMERS

• Ibrahim Gonzalez: W, CF, 7.0 IP, 116 P, 7 SO, 4 H, 1 ER, 4 BB
• Cole Krepcik: 2-3, R, SB
• Nick Hill: 1-3, HR, RBI
• Elijah Lee: 1-2, RBI

SCORING SUMMARY

• BTM 1^st – MACU – Nick Hill homered to right center, RBI – MACU 1, USAO 0
• BTM 2^nd – MACU – Jahzeel Groetelaers sacrifice bunt, RBI; Cole Krepcik scored – MACU 2, USAO 0
• BTM 2^nd – MACU – Elijah Lee bunt single to third base, RBI; Frankie Giacalone – MACU 3, USAO 0
• TOP 7^th – USAO – Anthony Hampton homered to LF, RBI – MACU 3, USAO 1

GAME SUMMARY

• After consecutive strikeouts to open the bottom of the first, Nick Hill swung at the first pitch and hit it over the right center field wall for the opening run and his 17^th homer of the season.
• The Evangels tacked on two more in the second after a leadoff single from Cole Krepcik and a walk from Frankie Giacalone quickly put two men on base. Runners advanced 90 feet on Julio Felix's sacrifice bunt, followed by a sacrifice bunt RBI from Jahzeel Groetelaers to score Krepcik from third. Elijah Lee laid down a perfect bunt as well and reached first on an infield single, while Giacalone made it home from third for an early 3-0 advantage.
• MACU had another opportunity in the fourth as once again it was Krepcik at third and Giacalone on second. However, Krepcik was tagged at home, and the Evangels stranded a pair of base runners.
• Science & Arts loaded the bases in the top of the sixth after a leadoff double, followed by a single and a walk. However, Ibrahim Gonzalez on the mound retired the next two batters to leave three Drover runners on bases and escape the winning run at the plate.
• After Gonzalez struck out the first two batters in seventh, the Drovers got on the board with a solo shot home run to left field to snap the shutout. However, Gonzalez returned to business and struck out the final batter to close out a 3-1 game one victory.

GAME NOTES

• MACU held a narrow hit advantage by a 6-4 margin. Both teams played a clean defensive game with no errors. USAO left six runners on base including the bases loaded situation in the top of the sixth, to the Evangels' four LOBs.  
• Ibrahim Gonzalez pitched all seven innings and recorded his eighth win and fifth complete game of the season. Gonzalez threw 116 pitches and struck out seven batters, conceding just four hits, four walks, and one earned run. Gonzalez entered the MACU Program Record Book with his fifth complete game of the season as he sits just two back of the top spot of seven held by Robert Santana in the 2014 season, and Keisy Portorreal in the 2018 season.
• Nick Hill's solo home run in the top of the first moved him to the top spot as no Evangel has ever hit 17 home runs in a single season until Hill. Nick overtook a record that lasted just one year as Cristopher Munoz hit 16 home runs in the 2025 season.
• Cole Krepcik recorded the only multi-hit plate appearance in a 2-3 outing. Krepcik scored a run and swiped a bag. Jahzeel Groetelaers and Elijah Lee credited the other two RBIs.
• MACU cut into the all-time series record to trail 21-52 after this game one win. The Evangels and Drovers have split every other game dating back to the 2023 season.   

 
GAME TWO

SCORE

• Mid-America Christian 3, Science & Arts 4
  • No. 19 Mid-America Christian (32-11, 19-7 SAC)
  • Science & Arts (19-21, 13-13 SAC)

PITCHING DECISION

• Win: Brian Ereu (1-6)
• Loss: Liam Taft (0-2)
• Save: Layton Bryan (2)

TOP PERFORMERS

• Jalen King: 2-3, SB, BB
• Adam Hanan: 1-2, 2B, RBI, BB
• Fabian Hernandez: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 SO, BB

SCORING SUMMARY

• BTM 3^rd – MACU – Nick Hill doubled to RF, RBI; Sammy Hallada scored – MACU 1, USAO 0
• BTM 3^rd – MACU – Adam Hanan doubled to CF, RBI; Nick Hill scored – MACU 2, USAO 0
• TOP 6^th – USAO – Henry Garcia homered to RF, 2 RBI; Connor Martin scored – MACU 2, USAO 2
• BTM 6^th – MACU – Frankie Giacalone homered to RF, RBI; - MACU 3, USAO 2
• TOP 7^th – USAO – Anthony Hampton homered to CF, 2 RBI; Gabe Clyden scored – MACU 3, USAO 4

GAME SUMMARY

• The Evangels aimed to start with an early advantage once again as Jalen King reached third early in the bottom of the first. However, MACU was unable to get him home and left runners at the corners in the first.
• MACU's lead came in the third as Sammy Hallada reached on a fielder's choice and advanced a base after a wild pitch. Nick Hill doubled to right field as Hallada made it around to score. Then Adam Hanan's deep shot hit the top of the back wall but turned into a stand-up RBI double to give the Evangels a quick 2-0 lead.
• Both pitchers worked through quick innings until the Drovers found offense in the sixth. A lead off single put a man on first, then a two-run homer knotted it up a 2-2. USAO had two more base runners after the home run but was unable to get them in as runs.
• Frankie Giacalone put MACU back up 3-2 in the bottom half of the sixth with a solo home run to right field that just crept inside the foul pole.
• However, in the top of the seventh USAO had the response again. Much like the sixth, a leadoff single started the action, followed by a two-run home run to go up 4-3. The Drovers had runners at the corners as Liam Taft came up with a big strikeout to limit the damage to just a one run deficit with three outs remaining.
• The Evangels down to three outs had Ned Ceklic lead off in a pinch hitter role. Ceklic fended off a seven-pitch walk, then Elijah Lee was hit by the pitch to put two quick runners aboard. However, as MACU returned to the top of the order, a great defense double play turned by the Drovers put the Evangels behind even with the runner advancing to third. Jalen King due up next walked to put the winning run on first. However, Nick Hill was unable to provide the magic we saw in game one and grounded out to close the game.

GAME NOTES

• MACU rarely trails in the hit margin as USAO outhit the Evangels by a 9-5 margin. This marked the most hits the Evangels have given up at home since the Nelson series back in early March.
• Fabian Hernandez started on the mound and recorded 83 pitches in five innings of work. Hernandez struck out a pair of batters and conceded five hits, two earned runs, and a walk. Gabriel Dixon entered in relief and retired three batters in four at bats. Liam Taft entered in the top of the seventh in efforts to extend his record of 12 saves. However, Taft conceded three hits and two earned runs to tally just his second loss of the season.
• Jalen King had the lone multi-hit evening with a 2-3 appearance and a walk. Nick Hill and Adam Hanan both had RBI doubles. Frankie Giacalone credited the third RBI with the solo home run in a 1-3 outing while scoring a run as well.
• MACU trails USAO 21-53 in the all-time record against the two programs. The Evangels and Drovers have split every other game dating back to the 2023 season.   

 
UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian stays at home for the season finale and wraps up the series against Science & Arts on Saturday afternoon with first pitch slated for 2 p.m. at the MACU Baseball Field.