The Basics
Game 1: Evangel 3, Baker 2
Game 2: Evangel 5 Baker 4
Records: Evangel (20-12, 7-7 Heart); Baker (10-24, 3-11 Heart)
Location: Springfield, Mo. – Crusader Field

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Timely hitting helped lead the Evangel baseball team to a sweep Friday afternoon over Baker with a 3-2 and 5-4 victory in Heart of America Athletic Conference action.

In game one the Crusaders were able to walk-off the Wildcats as Blake McCarty led off the bottom of the seventh with a pinch-hit single. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Austin Alfrey and would score two batters later when Dustin Hargus drove him home on a line drive in the gap.

Evangel jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a home run from Tanner McVey and added a second run in the bottom of the fourth. Baker cut the lead in half in the top of the fifth and tied the game in the top of the seventh before the Crusaders rallied in the bottom of the final inning.

Ryan Frye finished 3-for-3 at the plate as McVey also scored two of the three runs for Evangel.

Starter Derek Kennell earned the win as he pitched seven innings and scattered nine hits. He allowed two runs but was just charged with one while striking out six and walking none.

In game two Evangel had to rally again in the late innings after building a 2-0 lead. Starter Josh Lachnit held Baker scoreless over the first four innings but ran into trouble in the fifth allowing four runs.

Deric Link came on in relief and allowed just one hit over the final 2.2 innings with four strikeouts to earn the save.

Evangel pounded out 11 hits inducing extra base hits from Kyle Thurman who finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Game one hero, Dustin Hargus, also finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the win while Jose Vargas and Jordan Kirkpatrick also added a pair of hits.

UP NEXT
Evangel and Baker finish a four-game series Saturday at Crusader Field. First pitch 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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