Springfield, Mo. – Evangel came from behind to win game one and picked up a shutout in game two as the Crusaders swept Peru State on Saturday in a doubleheader at the Evangel Softball Complex in Springfield. The Crusaders won game one 11-6 and took the second game 4-0.
Evangel improved to 24-8 and 10-2 in the conference. Peru State had their losing streak extend to eight games as they fell to 9-29 and 2-10 in the league.
The Crusaders fell behind early in game one allowing five runs in the top of the first inning. However, Evangel would get two back in the bottom of the first and broke out for five runs in the bottom of the second capped by back-to-back two-run doubles from Kasie Zukow and Kiara Carrier. Carrier and Michelle Sheppard tacked on solo home runs for the Crusaders.
Michaela Tolliver survived the first inning to throw six innings for Evangel allowing six runs on 11 hits in the win. Cassidy Gillihan went 4 for 4 at the plate for the Crusaders scoring three times and driving in a run. Michelle Sheppard went 3 for 4 scoring three times to go along with her home run.
In game two, Evangel scored a run in the bottom of the first inning on a Kasie Zukow double. Evangel would tack on three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning with Zukow, Carrier, and Jillian Belieu all picking up RBIs.
Kyra Parker, who earned Heart of America conference and NAIA national Pitcher of the Week honors last week, threw six scoreless innings for Evangel in the game two win. The junior from Webb City, Missouri has now thrown 38 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. Parker allowed 5 hits, all singles, while surrendering no walks and striking out three. Gillihan went 2 for 4 with a run ending her day 6 for 8 at the plate with four runs scored.
Evangel travels to Fayette, Missouri on Tuesday, April 13th to play a key conference doubleheader against Central Methodist. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2:00pm.
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