Springfield, Mo. – Evangel picked up their first two wins of the season sweeping Stephens (Mo.) in a doubleheader on Tuesday winning both games in five innings, 11-0 and 11-3, at the Evangel Softball Complex.
The Crusaders scored four runs in the first inning of game one taking advantage of three errors in the inning by the Stars. Evangel added three more runs in the second and put the game away with a four-run fourth. Kasie Zukow went 2 for 3 with three runs batted in, a double and three runs scored while Megan Washam went 2 for 3 with a triple and three RBIs. Evangel stole 12 bases in the win. Starting pitcher Michaela Tolliver went five innings allowing two hits and no runs with one walk and five strikeouts.
Evangel won game two 11-3 after allowing two runs in the first inning. The Crusaders broke a 3-3 in the bottom of the third when Kasie Zukow led off the frame with a triple and then was driven home on a RBI single by Caitlin Buckalew. Four runs in the fourth inning gave Evangel a 9-3 lead and they finished the game in the bottom of the fifth on a RBI single by Taylor Kister in a pinch-hit at bat. Buckalew went 2 for 4 in the game with two RBIs.
Evangel improved to 2-2 on the season while Stephens dropped to 0-4.
The victories were the first two wins for Evangel's first year head coach Jay Halbrook. Halbrook was named head coach late last summer when Jerry Breaux, the Crusaders head coach for the previous 22 seasons, left to become head softball coach and assistant athletic director at Louisiana State University at Alexandria.
Evangel returns to action this weekend with four games as they host the Evangel Invitational Tournament in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Crusaders take on 23rd ranked Lindenwood-Belleville on Friday at 10 a.m. and then face 13th ranked Science & Arts (Okla.) at noon.
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