Texarkana, Tex. – Evangel baseball opened the 2016 with a split of a doubleheader at Texas A&M-Texarkana on Friday.
The Crusaders lost game one 10-6 after surrendering 10 runs in the first two innings. Evangel chipped away to pull within four runs of the lead by the seventh inning and out-hit the Eagles 11-10. Outfielder Ryan Frye went 2 for 4 with a run batted in for Evangel and first baseman Kyle Thurman hit a two-run home run for the Crusaders in the seventh inning. Taylor Wood pitched six innings of relief for Evangel allowing just two hits and no runs with two walks and six strikeouts.
Evangel rallied with three runs in the top of the seventh to win game two 4-3 in the 7-inning second game of the doubleheader. The Crusaders tied the game on a ground ball by Austin Alfrey that scored Joel Yates. Catcher Darin Francis then drove in the winning run with a two-out triple to right field that scored Blake McCarty. Justin Stockam picked up the win in relief for Evangel working two scoreless innings.
The games were the inaugural games for Texas A&M-Texarkana as the program enters their first season of intercollegiate play.
The series continues Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. in Texarkana.
