Springfield, Mo. – Evangel ended the regular season sweeping a doubleheader from Graceland winning game one 3-0 and game two 10-2 in six innings.
Evangel starting pitcher Michaela Tolliver fired a five-hit shutout with no walks and six strikeouts. She retired 15 straight batters in stretch from the second inning into the seventh inning. Evangel took a 2-0 lead in the fifth on an RBI double by Brittany Arnold and a ground ball by Megan Washam. Evangel added a run in the sixth inning with back-to-back doubles from Shelby Hoffman and Jessica Sotelo.
Evangel won the second game with a 10-2 win in six innings. Senior Shelby Hoffman ended the game with a two-run home run in the sixth inning giving Evangel the run-rule win in Hoffman's final career at-bat at home. After falling behind 2-0, the Crusaders scored six runs in the first inning capped by a three-RBI double by Brittany Hoskins.
Evangel ends the regular season with a 28-10 record and 13-5 in the conference to finish third in the Heart of America conference. Graceland dropped to 9-27, 6-12 for an eighth place finish in the HAAC.
Evangel plays in the HAAC Tournament Thursday in Overland Park, Kan. The third seeded Crusaders will face the sixth seed in the opening round of the eight-team, double-elimination tournament. The bracket and schedule will be announced early next week.
