Evangels' Rally Falls Short As Braves Finish Doubleheader Sweep

The Mid-America Christian University Evangels cut an eight-run deficit in half in the second game of a doubleheader with the Ottawa University Braves, but the Braves held on for a 9-5 win to complete the sweep Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 26) at James Curtis Field. The Braves took the opener 8-1.

The Evangels fell behind 9-1 early in the second game as a two-run double by Nick Deichler keyed a four-run first inning that began with two outs.

An RBI single by Brandon Spainhour scored Kory Palmer in the second inning to get the Evangels on the board, but the Braves tacked on three more runs in the third for a six-run lead.

MACU came back with two in the fifth and then added two more in the sixth on a two-run single by Bryan McKissick that plated Trent Daniels and pinch runner Isaac Treadaway. The Evangels threatened for more with runners on first and third and one out, but reliever Matthew Schwindt induced a fly out from Christian Hill and a groundout by Z Tipton to end the rally.

Blaine Garriott came out of the bullpen and kept the Evangels close, blanking the Braves on three hits with two strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings.

The Braves broke the game open early in the first game by capitalizing on three walks by Dalton Majors and an error in the second inning to score five runs.

Ottawa tacked on another run in the third and scored two more in the fourth on a two-run double by Alejandro Villegas.

The Evangels avoided the shutout when Jerry McNew tripled home Tipton in the bottom of the sixth.

Taylor Daniels went 2-of-3 for MACU in the nightcap, while Villegas drove in three runs to pace the Braves.

Hunter Boelte relieved Majors and limited the Braves to only two runs in four innings with a pair of strikeouts.

The Evangels will next begin a four-game Sooner Athletic Conference series at No. 6-ranked Rogers State University on Thursday afternoon (Mar. 28) at 3 p.m. in Claremore, Okla.