The Basics
Game 1: Evangel 11, MidAmerica Nazarene 6 | Box Score
Game 2: Evangel 3, MidAmerica Nazarene 11 | Box Score
Records: Evangel (17-19, 8-16); MidAmerica Nazarene (12-18, 8-14)
Location: Springfield, Mo. | Crusader Field

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Evangel softball team saw a tale of two games Wednesday out-slugging MidAmerica Nazarene 11-6 in game one before falling 11-3 in the second game of a Heart of America Athletic Conference double-header.

Game 1
Evangel jumped out to an early lead in the first game Wednesday scoring on a leadoff home run from Michelle Sheppard in the first. The Crusaders would belt two of the three home runs as both teams combined for 27 hits.

Ali Raley also went deep in left field for her third home run of the season. 

Sheppard led Evangel going 3 for 4 with two RBIs, while Raley was joined by Brooke Perry, AJ Carpenter, Allison Davis, and Jenna Halbrook collecting two hits each. 

Evangel put up seven runs in the third inning to break the game open 10-3. The Pioneers would chip away in the fourth and fifth innings but were unable to sustain a rally.

Bridget Rippe picked up her ninth win of the season in a complete game effort. She struck out two while only being charged with four of the six MNU runs.

Game 2

The second game saw MidAmerica Nazarene rally back to score in each of the final five frames.

Evangel took an early 2-0 lead in the second inning when Jenna Halbrook singled home Kami Holt who led off with a double and Ali Raley who followed with a single. However, the Crusaders only managed one more run in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI single from Raley.

The Crusaders left nine on base in the loss and committed three errors.

Abby Emmitt scattered four hits through the first four innings as she earned a no-decision. Emma Hill pitched the fifth and unable to get out of the sixth before Taylor Mathis finished the final two innings.

Raley and Holt led Evangel with a pair of hits as Holt scored two of the Crusaders' three runs.

Up Next

Evangel makes one final road trip Friday at South Division leader and 17th-ranked Baker before returning home Saturday for the final stretch of the regular season. First pitch from Baldwin City, Kansas is scheduled for 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.

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