Game 1: Evangel 8, Crowley's Ridge College 0 | Box Score
Game 2: Evangel 10, Crowley's Ridge College 2 | Box Score
Records: Evangel (11-1); Crowley's Ridge College (2-4)
Location: Crusader Field

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Evangel softball team continued its early-season surge Wednesday afternoon at Crusader Field, sweeping a non-conference doubleheader from Crowley's Ridge College to stretch its win streak to nine consecutive games.

Freshman Micaiah Cordell tossed a complete-game, three-hit shutout in an 8-0 EU victory in game one, while a balanced Crusader lineup scored six times on eight hits over its final two turns at-bat to post the five-inning, run-rule victory.

Ali Raley led the way in game two, going 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs, while Bridget Rippe held the Pioneers in check with another complete-game win in the circle.

Game 1 – Evangel 8, Crowley's Ridge 0 (5 inn.)
Cordell notched her first career victory for the Crusaders, striking out five and scattering three CRC singles. EU got a big lift from Josie Allcock, who went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a pair of runs scored to lead the Crusaders' 11-hit attack.

EU struck early with a pair of first-inning runs on an Allcock double and a Kaydran Russell RBI single, after Megan Stone set the tone with a leadoff single—her seventh hit in her last eight official at-bats.

Cordell (1-0) limited the Pioneers offensive chances, allowing just singles to Rachel Russell in the second and Bailey Jones in the third to allow the EU offense time to extend its advantage.

Back-to-back singles by Russell and Mariah Hanner opened the EU fourth and extended the lead to 3-0, before Annslee Leeviraphan's run-scoring hit made it a four-run affair.

EU broke the game wide open—and put the victory on ice—with a four-run fifth, highlighted by four consecutive hits to start the inning. Kristyn Stocks started the outburst with a leadoff double, before Raley added a single and Allcock tripled home both baserunners. Next, Kami Holt contributed an RBI double, before Anah Noble ended the contest with a run-scoring gap shot of her own.

In addition to Allcock's performance, Russell finished 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the EU offense.

Game 2 – Evangel 10, Crowley's Ridge 2 (5 inn.)
EU followed a similar pattern in game two, scoring a first-inning run on Stone's single, a Raley double and a Pioneer error, then breaking the game open with a late scoring barrage.

Raley belted a two-run homer in the third to extend the lead to 3-0, then singled to ignite the Crusaders' seven-run fifth inning that sealed the victory.

Trystin Minnick, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a steal, singled home the first run of the fifth, before Ashlie Marshall squeezed in a second tally to make it a 5-0 game. Hanner doubled to drive in another run, before RBI singles by Leeviraphan and Stocks, as well as a bases-loaded walk to Hailey Lange and an Allcock sac fly ended the game.

Stone added two more hits to her season total, scoring three runs and swiping a bag as well, while Hanner went 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and an RBI to compliment Raley's big performance.

Rippe (3-1) struck out seven and allowed just two hits and a pair of unearned, fifth-inning runs before the Crusaders key rally in the home half of the inning.

Up Next
Evangel is slated to open Heart of America Athletic Conference play Friday (March 12) with a 1 p.m., doubleheader against Benedictine at Crusader 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—