The Basics
Game 1: Evangel 13, Cottey College 16 | Box Score
Game 2: Evangel 3, Cottey College 1 | Box Score
Records: Evangel (3-1), Cottey College (1-1)
Location: Springfield, Mo. | Crusader Field

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Evangel softball team split a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon with Cottey College, dropping the first game 16-13 and winning the second game 3-1.  

The Crusaders fell behind early in the first game but were able to rally before falling short. In the second game, Evangel got timely hits and quality pitching to subdue the Comets.

Game One
The first game saw the Crusaders dig themselves an early hole, giving up eight runs in the first inning and five in the second inning.

Evangel was able to score a run in each of the first three innings, but the bats really came to life in the fifth and seventh innings when they scored four runs each.

Michelle Sheppard went 4-5 with 3 RBI including a triple. Anah Noble and Taylor Good also hit triples. The Crusaders also hit seven doubles as a team in the loss.

Emma Hill gave up 11 runs off two hits and six walks in one inning of work and was credited with the loss. Bridget Rippe came in and pitched 3.2 innings of relief, giving up 5 runs off nine hits and two walks. Taylor Mathis pitched 2.1 innings in relief and gave up two hits and a walk.

Game Two
The Crusaders won game two 3-1 as the game was called in the bottom of the fifth due to darkness.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the third when AJ Carpenter hit an RBI single to score Sheppard from second to give the Crusaders a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the fourth, Allison Davis doubled to left field and then came in to score off a double from Megan Tiede. She was lifted for pinch-runner Whitney De Gonia who scored when Taylor Good hit a single thru the hole at shortstop.

The Comets were able to get a run back in the top of the fifth, but that was all before the game was called in the bottom of the fifth.

Abby Jo Emmitt pitched all five innings for the Crusaders giving up one run off two hits and four walks. She had six strikeouts.

Up Next
Evangel next plays a doubleheader on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at home vs. Lyon. First pitch for game one is scheduled for noon.  

For the latest information on Evangel Athletics, follow the Crusaders on Facebook at Facebook.com/EUAthletics 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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