The Basics
Game 1: Evangel 3, Culver-Stockton 5 | Box Score
Game 2: Evangel 6, Culver-Stockton 5 | Box Score
Records: Evangel 16-20, 6-17); Culver-Stockton (17-24, 9-13)
Location: Springfield, Mo. | Crusader Field

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Evangel baseball team rallied back to earn a split Friday against Culver-Stockton in dramatic fashion 6-5 after falling 5-3 in game one on Senior Day.

Game 1

Both teams went back and forth as Culver-Stockton plated single runs in the first and second innings to take a 2-0 lead. However, Evangel would claw back with an RBI double from Harold Alvarez to score Harrison Stevens.

Then in the fourth inning, Jason Jarrell would lead off with a single as pinch runner Stephen Belcher tied the game on an RBI single from Patrick Gaul. The game stayed locked at 2-2 until the sixth when the Wildcats took advantage of a pair of Crusader errors.

Evangel would get one of the runs back in the bottom of the seventh to pull within 5-3 but leave a pair of runners on base. In total, Evangel left 10 on base in the loss.

Gaul, Stevens, Jarrell, Alvarez, and Jose Vargas all recorded two hits each on Senior Day as the Crusaders out-hit Culver-Stockton, 11-6. 

Bret Hoffman picked up the loss as he allowed just six hits and was only charged with three of the five runs. He struck out three before Levi Loughridge pitched the final two innings holding the Wildcats hitless.

Game 2

Evangel got another solid pitching performance from seniors Bryan Adames and Tyler Collison. Adames earned the win going six innings and scattering seven hits while striking out five. Collison entered in the seventh with a strikeout and got help on a double play to end the game. 

Right fielder Noah Suiter fired a dart to Jason Jarrell at the plate to double up the Culver-Stockton runner trying to tag to end the game.

Evangel rallied back with three runs in the sixth to take a 6-4 lead in part to four hits and a Wildcat error.

The seniors again stepped up big in the sixth, as Alvarez singled to left and pinch runner Wade Brazeal scored on an infield single by Andrew Edwards. Alvarez went 2 for 2 with two RBIs in the win. 

Up Next

Evangel finishes the regular season next weekend on the road at Graceland on Friday and Peru State on Saturday.

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