Game 1: Texas A&M-Texarkana 15, Evangel 4 | Box Score
Game 2: College of the Ozarks 7, Evangel 6 | Box Score
Records: Evangel (3-3); Texas A&M-Texarkana (7-5); College of the Ozarks (1-3)
Location: Bob Smith Field

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – Evangel dropped to 3-3 on the new season after being swept by Texas A&M-Texarkana and College of the Ozarks in its two games at Bob Smith Field Tuesday afternoon.

Dalton Cook drove in a total of five runs for the Crusaders, while Patrick Gaul added a 3-for-3 performance in the nightcap.

Game 1 – Texas A&M-Texarkana 15, Evangel 4
Texas A&M-Texarkana scored six times in the first three innings, then added a pair of big innings late to blow the game wide open and post its second win over EU in as many days.

The Eagles scored single runs in the first and second innings off Crusader starter Hunter Hancock, then plated four more in the third to establish a 6-0 lead. Chris McGinty's RBI single to right and Mateo Martinez's sacrifice fly highlighted the rally.

Texas A&M-Texarkana struck for four more runs in the fifth to stretch its lead to double-digits. The Eagles logged four consecutive hits to open the inning, as six of the first seven batters reached safely.

Evangel plated a single run in the fourth after Noah Suiter doubled and scored on a Cook sac fly. Cook would deliver again in the home half of the sixth, belting a two-out, three-run homer to pull EU to within 10-4.

But the Eagles eliminated any question about the outcome with a five-run outburst in the top of the seventh, highlighted by Martinez's two-out grand slam.

The Eagles touched up EU pitching for 12 hits while also benefiting from eight walks and a pair of hit batsmen.

Martinez drove in five runs to lead Texas A&M-Texarkana, while Cook recorded four RBIs for the Crusaders.

Game 2 – College of the Ozarks 7, Evangel 6
Despite out-hitting the Bobcats by a 9-7 margin, the Crusaders dropped a one-run contest to host CofO, which scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to snap a 5-5 deadlock.

Gaul enjoyed a 3-for-3 day at the plate, and Jordan Yates blasted a game-tying, three-run homer in the fourth inning to lead Evangel.

But the Bobcats plated an unearned run to regain the upper hand in the home half of the fourth, then added a key insurance tally in the fifth on a Neco Lopez double.

After the Bobcats scored in the first on a Max Pulley infield single, EU took a 2-1 lead in the third, using a Gaul base hit, a Bobcat error and a Cook RBI groundout to score its first two runs of the game.

Ryan Daggs sparked a four-run third for the home club with his leadoff homer. CofO would score three more times without the benefit of a hit, as EU pitchers combined to issue five walks in the inning.

Zach Johnston (0-1) suffered the loss for EU, despite striking out four and allowing just one earned run in his 2.1 innings of relief.

Up Next
Evangel will travel to Oklahoma City for a pair of Noon doubleheaders with Mid-America Christian on Friday (Feb. 26) and Saturday (Feb. 27).

For the latest information on Evangel Athletics, follow the Crusaders on Facebook at Facebook.com/EUAthletics, Twitter (@EUAthletics), or visit EvangelAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the new Evangel Crusaders GamedayApp through Google Play. 

—EvangelAthletics.com—