The Basics

Game 1: Evangel 2, MidAmerica Nazarene 3

Game 2: Evangel 2, MidAmerica Nazarene 3

Records: Evangel (15-11, 2-6 Heart); MidAmerica Nazarene (14-5, 5-1 Heart)

Location: Olathe, Kan. – Dixon Stadium

OLATHE, Kan. – The Evangel baseball team dropped a pair of conference games Saturday falling 3-2 in both game one and two, as MidAmerica Nazarene also won the series.

In game one, Evangel was unable to hold onto an early lead as MidAmerica Nazarene scored a run in each of the final three innings to complete a 3-2 comeback win. The Crusaders scored in the top of the first and then took a brief 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning; however, MNU answered with a run in the bottom of the inning before walking off in the bottom of the seventh.

Dustin Eby was just one out away from the complete game win as he scattered six hits over 6.2 innings. Eby struck out seven and walked four as he was charged with the loss.

Stevin Cisneros scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch after leading off with a double in the gap. A sacrifice fly from Jordan Yates gave Evangel its second run as the Crusaders were held to just three hits in the loss.

Evangel jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in game two as Cisneros again led off the first inning with a base hit. Cisneros would score when Austin Alfrey was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The next batter, Ryan Frye, scored Jordan Kirkpatrick who pinch ran for Dustin Hargus on a sacrifice fly to right.

Unfortunately, that would be all the scoring Evangel would get as MNU tied the game in the second and took the lead with a run in the bottom of the third.

Starter Taylor Wood went the distance for Evangel allowing just five hits and three walks while striking out two. Wood was tabbed with his second loss of the season while Emilio Gonzales earned the win for the Pioneers.

Both Hargus and Kyle Thurman finished 2-for-4 as the Crusaders were also held to just five hits in the game two loss.

UP NEXT
Evangel returns home next weekend to open a four-game series against Benedictine Friday and Saturday. First pitch both days in game one is scheduled for 1 p.m.

For the latest information on Evangel athletics, follow the Crusaders on Facebook at Facebook.com/EvangelAthletics or go to www.EvangelAthletics.com.

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