From MACU Sports Info.
By Levi Convirs, Sports Information Director
Shawnee, Okla. — Trailing by four runs after five innings, the Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels staged a dramatic rally and defeated the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Drovers 8-5 today in their second pool play game of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament.
The victory is the second of the day for the Lady Evangels and after No. 13 Oklahoma Baptist University knocked off Northwood University 5-1 earlier tonight, MACU is assured of a spot in the SAC title game on Saturday afternoon (May 3) against the winner of tomorrow’s second pool play game between St. Gregory’s University and Oklahoma City University.
MACU trailed the entire way and were down 4-0 until an RBI single by Hannah Lynch scored Jackie Hilterbran in the sixth to get the Lady Evangels on the board.
The Lady Evangels then capitalized on three Drover miscues to plate four runs in the seventh to take a 5-4 lead.
But the Drovers responded with a two-out RBI single by Courtney Capps to tie the game and send it to extra innings.
The game remained even through the eighth until Carson Osborne came through with the biggest hit of the game, a two-out, two-run triple that put the Lady Evangels ahead for good.
Osborne then scored an important insurance run when Katie Gracey reached base on an error.
Kelcie Wolf followed starter Amber Tinney and Ashley Sanford on the mound and got the final three outs to pick up the save.
Tinney pitched six strong innings for the Lady Evangels, allowing only two earned runs and striking out four. Sanford picked up the win by working two innings and giving up one run.
Kenna McCoy was a sparkplug for the Lady Evangels offense, going 4-of-6 from the leadoff spot. Osborne was 3-of-5 with two RBI, while Sanford, Lynch and Taylor Green each had two hits. Taryn Callender also drove in a run for the Lady Evangels.
USAO also got four hits and an RBIÂ its leadoff hitter Kaylin Taylor. Tate Landmark gave up two runs in six innings with four strikeouts for the Drovers.
The Lady Evangels will finish pool play tomorrow afternoon (May 2) against Northwood University at 3 p.m., while Saturday’s title game will be played at 1 p.m. on the campus of Oklahoma City University.