Fayette, Mo. – Dickinson State defeated Mid-America Christian for the second day in a row, 3-2, to eliminate MACU and remain alive in the Fayette Bracket of the NAIA Opening Round. The Blue Hawks scored all three of their runs in the top of the seventh inning to earn a thrilling victory after another lengthy rain delay.
The two teams were tied 0-0 in the bottom of the second inning when lightning started the second weather delay between the two teams in as many days. MACU had led off the inning with a triple down the right field line, but Blue Hawk starter Dallis Mitchell had gotten a pop-up and a strikeout to alleviate the threat somewhat.
After the delay, catcher Jai Maddox-Hernandez was able pickoff the baserunner at third to escape the jam. The Evangels finally broke through against Mitchell in the bottom of the third inning, using a hit-by-pitch, stolen base, ground out, and RBI single to push across their first run against Mitchell in over 9 innings at the regional.
Neither team would score a run the rest of the way until Dickinson State mounted a furious rally in the top of the seventh to keep their season alive. Kara Conway led off the inning with a walk and came all the way around to score when MACU threw a bunt by Maddox-Hernandez down the right field line. Maddox-Hernandez reached third on the play and scored one batter later when HaiLeigh Davis hit a sacrifice fly to left field to give DSU the lead.
An error by the second baseman allowed Cassy Loa to reach, and a hit-by-pitch of Kiley Hubby moved her to second, before Bailey Hansen provided the eventual game-winning RBI with a single to center, scoring Loa.
MACU didn't go down quietly in the home half of the inning however, scoring one run thanks to a pair of hits and a pair of passed balls, but Mitchell got Hallie Wilson to fly out stranding the tying run on third base.
Mitchell earned her sixth postseason win, going 7.0 innings and allowing 2 runs on 7 hits while striking out five and walking none.
The Blue Hawks will now take on the loser of Central Methodist and Indiana Wesleyan tomorrow afternoon in another elimination game.
