OKLAHOMA CITY – No. 19 MACU Baseball faced elimination on Saturday afternoon in the Sooner Athletic Conference Quarterfinals against Science & Arts but rallied behind a strong offensive output to pull away in dominant fashion for a 12-4 victory at the MACU Baseball Field. This advanced the Evangels to a double elimination semifinal next weekend in Joplin, Mo.
 
GAME ONE
 
SCORE

• (2) Mid-America Christian 12, (7) Science & Arts 4
  • No. 19 Mid-America Christian (35-12)
  • Science & Arts (21-24)

PITCHING DECISION

• Win: Byron Madero (7-0)
• Loss: Kason Johnson (4-3)

TOP PERFORMERS

• Byron Madero: 3.0 IP, W, 3 SO, 0 ER, 2 H, BB
• Sammy Hallada: 3-4, 2 2B, R, SB
• Jalen King: 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, R, SB
• Adam Hanan: 2-5, HR, 2 RBI, R
• Tuane Cope: 2-4, 2 R, 2 SB, BB
• Jahzeel Groetelaers: 1-2, HR, 4 RBI, R, BB

SCORING SUMMARY

• TOP 1^st – USAO – Connor Martin homered to RF, RBI – MACU 0, USAO 1
• TOP 1^st – USAO – Duncan Key homered to RF, RBI – MACU 0, USAO 2
• BTM 1^st – MACU – Adam Hanan homered to LF, 2 RBI; Jalen King scored – MACU 2, USAO 2
• BTM 1^st – MACU – Frankie Giacalone homered to LF, 2 RBI; Cole Krepcik scored – MACU 4, USAO 2
• TOP 3^rd – USAO – Corey Morro singled to LF, RBI; Henry Garcia scored – MACU 4, USAO 3
• TOP 3^rd – USAO – Luke Fox walked, RBI; Braxton Givens scored – MACU 4, USAO 4
• BTM 4^th – MACU – Jalen King doubled to LF, 2 RBI; Elijah Lee and Jesse Ortega scored – MACU 6, USAO 4
• BTM 5^th – MACU – Jahzeel Groetelaers homered to LF, 4 RBI; Tuane Cope, Frankie Giacalone, and Cole Krepcik scored – MACU 10, USAO 4
• BTM 5^th – MACU – Sammy Hallada scored on error – MACU 11, USAO 4
• BTM 6^th – MACU – Conner Thompson sacrifice fly to CF, RBI; Tuane Cope scored – MACU 12, USAO 4

GAME SUMMARY

• Just like in the opening two games of this series, USAO scored two in the opening inning. Two solo home runs with the first coming from Connor Martin on the first pitch of the game. The second came two batters later from Duncan Key to give the Drovers a quick 2-0 lead.
• However, MACU had the immediate response once again with a pair of home runs of its own. Jalen King reached after beating the throw from the short stop. Then Adam Hanan, who didn't have a hit in yesterday's double header, nuked his first pitch over the wall to tie it up 2-2. Cole Krepcik reached base with a single to left field and scored after Frankie Giacalone battled a nine pitch at-bat that resulted in another two-run home run for the Evangels to put them up 4-2 through one.
• USAO equalized in the top of the third with two early base runners via a walk and a single. First run scored from second base after a deep single down the left field line allowed the runner home. The equalizing run came on a bases loaded walk. However, MACU pitcher Carlos Uribe stepped up to force the fly out to retire the side and leave three Drover runners on base.
• Jalen King gave the Evangels the lead back after a two-RBI double to left field in the fourth inning. Elijah Lee and Jesse Ortega came around to score as MACU led 6-4.
• The game was blown wide open in the bottom of the sixth as Jahzeel Groetelaers hit his first grand slam of the season. A pair of singles from Krepcik and Tuane Cope sandwiched a walk from Giacalone to set up the opportunity for Groetelaers. Jahzeel took full advantage and sent a hard-hit ball over the left field wall. Sammy Hallada also came around to score off an error as the Evangels put up a five spot in the fifth and led 11-4.
• The lead grew to eight in the sixth after Cope singled up the middle on an 0-2 count. He got all the way to third after consecutive stolen bases. Then Conner Thompson brought him home with a deep sacrifice fly to center field and a 12-4 advantage.
• The Drovers had three outs remaining in the top of the ninth and faced Liam Taft on the mound for the Evangels. After walking a pair of batters, Taft responded with consecutive strikeouts and a ground out to punch his team a spot in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals with a 12-4 victory over Science & Arts.

GAME NOTES

• MACU recorded 14 hits to USAO's eight. The Evangels have outhit the Drovers in five of the six meetings this season, including in all three playoff matchups. MACU played its third consecutive playoff game without committing an error. USAO committed two errors.     
• Carlos Uribe started game three on the mound and pitched four innings with three strikeouts. Uribe allowed four earned runs on five hits and walked six batters. Byron Madero entered in relief and pitched three complete innings and recorded his seventh win of the season. Madero struck out three batters and allowed no runs, two hits, and one walk. Angel Miranda and Liam Taft closed the game, both pitching an inning. They combined for five strikeouts and just one hit allowed.
• MACU bats were red-hot in this elimination game as Sammy Hallada led the way with a 3-4 plate appearance, hitting two doubles and scoring a run. Jalen King had an efficient 2-3 outing with a double and two RBIs. He also recorded a run scored and a pair of walks. Adam Hanan, Cole Krepcik, and Tuane Cope rounded out five Evangel batters with multiple hits.
• Home runs were the storyline as five were hit between the two teams. The Evangels hit three, highlighted by Jahzeel Groetelaers bases clearing grand slam. Jahzeel took his season total up to five home runs and first grand slam of the season. Adam Hanan hit the first home run for MACU in the first inning, his ninth of the season. While Frankie Giacalone followed him two batters later for his 11^th this year. This marked the 10^th time this season MACU has hit three or more home runs in a single game this season.
• MACU cut the all-time record deficit against USAO to 24-54. However, the Evangels are 6-4 in the last 10 games against the Drovers and won the series in both meetings this year.

 
UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will head to Joplin, Missouri to take part in a double elimination semifinal in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament. The Evangels will face the number three seeded Oklahoma City on Friday afternoon, first pitch TBD.