Box Score The Basics
Score: Evangel 13, Lincoln College 4
Records: Evangel (5-4); Lincoln College (0-4)
Location: Crusader Field
Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Behind monster afternoons by Noah Suiter and Jordan Yates, the Evangel baseball team opened an eight-game home stand with a 13-4 non-conference victory over Lincoln College Friday afternoon at Crusader Field.
Suiter and Yates combined to go 5-for-8 with seven RBIs, while Patrick Gaul stole three bases and scored three runs as part of a 2-for-5 day at the plate for EU, which scored six runs in the second inning to build an 8-0 lead that the Lynx never seriously threatened.
On the mound, Bret Hoffman (2-1) struck out eight batters and scattered four runs on five hits over his five innings to earn the victory.
Suiter, who finished the day 2-for-4 with four RBIs, opened the scoring in the home half of the first with a run-scoring single to bring home Gaul for a 1-0 Crusader advantage. Jason Jarrell's sac fly to center brought home Suiter to double the Crusader advantage.
Nathan Lamb's single to left chased home the first EU run of the second, before Suiter brought in two more with a double to right-center to hike the margin to 5-0. Yates followed with a two-run single to center, and Mason Hansen's RBI grounder to second brought in another Crusader to cap the rally.
Lincoln got on the board with a pair of two-run rallies in the fourth and fifth frames, using a Ryan Thomas two-run single to cut the EU lead to 8-2, before James Marquez doubled home two more Lynx baserunners to pull his club to within four runs.
But Evangel eliminated any doubts about the outcome with a five-run rally in the bottom of the sixth, with the duo of Suiter and Yates once again playing a starring role. Suiter's ground ball to short allowed Lamb to score from third, and Yates drove in another run with his second double of the day to right-center for an 10-4 EU lead.
Stephen Belcher extended the margin to eight with a two-run double of his own, and Tyler Coffelt plated the 13th and final EU run with a base hit to center.
As a team, Evangel recorded eight stolen bases and out-hit the Lynx by a 15-7 margin. Lamb complimented the performances of Gaul, Suiter and Yates with a 2-for-3 effort, reaching base safely in three of his four trips to the plate and scoring twice.
Up Next
Evangel concludes its three-game set with Lincoln College Saturday afternoon with a Noon contest 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—
