Canton, Mo. – Culver-Stockton jumped out to early leads in both games against Evangel on Friday as the Wildcats swept the Crusaders 7-2 and 9-3 in Canton, Missouri. 

Culver-Stockton built an early lead in game one with a run in the first inning and three more runs in the second. The Crusaders scored their two runs in the sixth on a 2-RBI double by Darin Francis who went 2 for 3 at the plate. Luis Vilchez pitched a complete game for the Wildcats allowing just two runs on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts. 

The Wildcats struck first again in the second game with a two-run opening frame and they owned a 5-1 lead through three innings. Evangel made it a 5-3 game in the fifth as Darin Francis and Kyle Thurman both drove in runs on ground balls. Culver-Stockton blew the game open, though, with two runs in the sixth and two more in the eighth. Wildcats starter Daniel Smith held the Crusaders to three hits and worked all nine innings allowing only one earned run with one walk and six strikeouts. 

Evangel dropped to 9-20 and 1-7 in the Heart of America conference. Culver-Stockton improved to 12-17 and 6-2. 

The Crusaders travel to Central Methodist for a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. in Fayette, Missouri.