The Basics
Game 1: Evangel 18, Baker 8 | Box Score
Game 2: Evangel 4, Baker 9 | Box Score
Records: Evangel (15-14, 7-3); Baker (10-19, 3-5)
Location: Baldwin City, Kan. | Sauder Field

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – A record-setting day at the plate helped Evangel split with Baker taking game one, 18-8, before falling in game two, 9-4, on Friday afternoon.

Game One
The offense was clicking in a record-setting game one where Evangel tied a school record with 25 hits in an 18-8 victory.

Evangel scored in every inning but the third and seventh as the Crusaders started the game with a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. However, the fifth inning was when Evangel broke the game open with seven runs on seven hits and an error.

Baker had scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth to pull within 9-7, but the Crusader bullpen shut down the Wildcats allowing just one hit and one run over the final three innings.

Patrick Gaul and Gabe Franklin paced the offense with five hits each as Franklin was 5-for-5 with four RBIs. Gaul went 5-for-6 with four runs scored and two RBIs as well.

Ryan Frye also produced four RBIs going 3-for-5 as Jordan Yates added three RBIs and three hits with a home run.

Derek Kennell earned the win going 3.2 innings before Colin Irvine, Austin Dill and Caleb Pierce shut down the Wildcats.

Game Two
Baker rallied to take the second game of the four-game series behind solid pitching performances.

Evangel managed to out-hit Baker, 11-10, however, the Crusaders left 11 baserunners in the second game. The Crusaders were held scoreless through the first five innings before getting on the board in the sixth.

Baker took the lead in the third with a run and pushed the lead to 5-0 after a four-run fourth inning. The Wildcats added four more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning as Evangel attempted a rally in the seventh that came up short after scoring two runs.

Bret Hoffman earned a tough loss as he scattered seven hits over four innings while just three of the five runs were earned. Evangel committed four errors in the loss.

Gaul continued to swing a hot bat going 4-for-4 with two RBIs in the nightcap. Rafael Rodriguez and Jose Vargas also added multiple hits while was Rodriguez went 3-for-4 and Vargas tallied two hits and an RBI.

Up Next
Evangel and Baker complete the four-game series on Saturday in Baldwin City, Kansas. 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. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the Go Evangel Front Row App at EvangelAthletics.com/FrontRow available on Google Play and in the App Store.

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