Game 1: Mid-America Christian 2, Evangel 0 | Box Score
Game 2: Evangel 10, Mid-America Christian 2 | Box Score
Records: Evangel (4-4); Mid-America Christian (5-5)
Location: James Curtis Field

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Evangel rode a pair of complete-game pitching performances and a big sixth-inning rally to a doubleheader split with Mid-America Christian Friday afternoon at James Curtis Field.

Austin Dill permitted just one earned run on three hits while striking out six batters to earn the victory in the Crusaders' 10-2 win in the nightcap, after Bret Hoffman allowed just two runs on five hits in his 6.0 innings in a game-one, 2-0 loss to the Evangels. 

Game 1 – Mid-America Christian 2, Evangel 0
MACU's Brad White outdueled Hoffman to notch a complete-game shutout of the Crusaders, striking out nine EU hitters (without issuing a walk) while scattering eight hits.

Hoffman allowed the game's only two scores in the home half of the fifth, as Edgar Martinez doubled with one out, stole third and scored on an Andrews Gonzalez single to left for a 1-0 MACU lead. Gonzalez swiped second, then scored on an Isaiah Haddad bunt single to make it a two-run affair.

White slammed the door on the Crusaders from that point, retiring the final seven EU hitters of the game to preserve the win.

Martinez led the Evangels with a 2-for-2 game, while Patrick Gaul, Noah Suiter and Mason Hansen each logged two-hit performances for the Crusaders.

Game 2 – Evangel 10, Mid-America Christian 2
After being held scoreless in the opener, the Crusaders wasted no time in kicking their offense into gear in game two. Grant Miller's two-out, two-run double highlighted a three-run first inning, before EU plated six runs in the top of the sixth to ice the victory.

The trio of Gaul, Hansen and Suiter logged two hits apiece once again, and Miller chipped in with a 2-for-4 performance for EU.

Miller capped EU's big first with a two-bagger down the left-field line to chase home Suiter and Stephen Belcher, after Gaul had singled and scored to ignite the rally.

Dill (2-0) needed little additional support, as the right-hander dispatched the Evangels in order in two of the first three frames. He gave up an unearned run in the fourth after a pair of Crusader miscues allowed Yan Ely Adames to score the first MACU run.

EU added a run in the third on a two-out error, then broke the contest wide open with a another two-out rally in the sixth. Suiter's two-out, RBI-single to shallow right spark the Crusaders, who went on to plate five more runs with the help of another MACU error. Jason Jarrell's grounder to second was bobbled by Martinez, allowing both Gaul and Suiter to cross the plate. Hansen made the Evangels pay, blasting a three-run homer to right on a 3-2 pitch from Christian Ballard to extend the lead to 10-1.

MACU plated a run in the home half of the sixth on a Grant Roberts RBI grounder, after Isaiah Haddad doubled to start the inning.

But Dill retired the final three batters of the sixth in order, then worked around a two-out catcher's interference ruling to retire the side and lock up the victory.

Up Next
Evangel wraps up its four-game set with MACU Saturday (Feb. 27) with a Noon doubleheader at James Curtis Field.

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—