The Basics
Score: Evangel 4, MidAmerica Nazarene 9 | Box Score
Records: Evangel (14-10, 5-7); MidAmerica Nazarene (7-9, 5-5)
Location: Olathe, Kan. | Dixon Stadium

OLATHE, Kan. — An eighth-inning rally kept the Evangel baseball team from a road sweep Tuesday as MidAmerica Nazarene came back for a 9-4 win in Heart South Division action.

The Crusaders and Pioneers matched runs in the first and second innings. Each team plated one run as the game stayed deadlocked at 2-2 until the sixth inning when Evangel got a lead-off double from Patrick Gaul. Gaul would eventually score on a wild pitch to give the Crusaders a 3-2 lead.

Evangel would again take advantage of Pioneer miscues in the seventh when a wild throw and bases loaded walk added to the Crusader lead.

However, MNU eventually rallied with seven runs on six hits in the bottom of the eighth to take a 9-4 lead. The Pioneers would shut Evangel down in the ninth in order to salvage the final game of the series.

Ben Loge was solid going seven innings and scattering six hits while allowing just the two early runs. Loge struck out seven and walked none as he earned a no-decision. Tyler Collison picked up the loss in 0.1 innings of work before Zach Johnston and Collin Irvine finished the game.

Jose Vargas continued to swing a hot bat going 2 for 4. Harrison Stevens, Patrick Gaul, and Harold Alvarez earned an RBI after a solo home run, while Gaul doubled.

Austyn Gooch went six innings for MNU and allowed three runs and five hits while striking out five. Brady Boyd pitched the final two innings and allowed just one hit and no runs to pick up the bullpen victory.

UP NEXT

Evangel returns to Springfield for a weekend South Division series against Baker. First pitch for Friday's single game is 3 p.m. as Saturday's double-header will start at 1 p.m.

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.

---www.EvangelAthletics.com---