Springfield, Mo. – Evangel University baseball opens their 51st season of intercollegiate competition on Friday at Texas A&M-Texarkana. Friday's doubleheader will be the first two games in a four game series that continues with a doubleheader on Saturday. Play beings at noon both days.
Friday's games will also be the head coaching debut of Russell Brand. Brand was an assistant coach at Evangel for nine seasons under Lance Quessenberry who stepped down last summer to become the director of athletics at Summit Christian Academy in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Brand was an Evangel pitcher from 1999-2002 and was an all-conference performer in his senior year.
Evangel returns 22 lettermen from a team that went 17-28 last season and 9-17 in the Heart of America conference.
The Crusaders bring back two all-conference performers, catcher Darin Francis and pitcher Reese Taylor. Francis enters his senior year after hitting .265 last season and the Springfield-Parkview product was considered one of the best defensive catchers in the conference. Taylor went 4-6 last season with a 3.55 earned run average. The senior from West Plains struck out 58 while walking 19 in 66 innings last year.
This weekend's games will be the inaugural games for Texas A&M-Texarkana. The Eagles will be playing their first year in intercollegiate baseball. The team is an
Evangel's home opener is scheduled for Feb. 19 when they start a three-game series against Nebraska Wesleyan.
For additional information, contact:
Evangel University Athletics (417) 865-2815, ext. 7417
