Texarkana, Tex. – Evangel dropped both games of a doubleheader at Texas A&M-Texarkana losing 9-3 in game one and 16-15 in eight innings in game two during their first weekend of play in the 2016 season. 

In game one, Evangel forged a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning on a Zach Elledge single that drove home Darin Francis. The Eagles countered, though, with a four-run bottom of the fifth and scored two more runs in the sixth. Francis went 2 for 4 at the plate while shortstop Jordan Kirkpatrick went 3 for 4 with a double for the Crusaders. 

Evangel lost the second game in a 16-15, eight-inning slugfest. The Crusaders scored 10 runs in the first two innings only to fall behind in the bottom of the third when Texas A&M-Texarkana posted a 10-run frame to take a 12-10 lead. The Crusaders forced extra innings with a four-run top of the seventh tying the game at 15-15. Austin Alfrey scored on a wild pitch with two outs to knotting the score. The Eagles won the game with a double in the bottom of the eighth to sweep the doubleheader. Darin Francis had five runs batted in the game including a three-run home run for Evangel. 

The Crusaders dropped to 1-3 with the losses. Texas A&M-Texarkana improved to 3-1 as the Eagles were playing in their first four games in program history. 

Evangel plays again Thursday when they take on fifth ranked Oklahoma City University for a doubleheader starting at noon.