Game 1: Baker 7, Evangel 5 | Box Score
Game 2: Evangel 3, Baker 2 | Box Score
Records: Evangel (23-9, 12-8); Baker (5-5, 3-1)
Location: Cavaness Field 

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – After coming up short in its comeback bid in game one of its doubleheader with Baker Tuesday, the Evangel softball team built an early lead in the nightcap before holding on for a 3-2 victory to earn a split with the host Wildcats at Cavaness Field.

Ali Raley recorded a big day at the plate for Evangel, going a combined 4-for-7 with five RBIs in the two games. The junior catcher homered and drove in four runs in the opening contest, before putting EU on top to stay in game two with her third-inning, RBI-single.

In the circle, Abby Jo Emmitt turned in her second complete-game effort in as many days to lift Evangel to the game-two victory.

Game 1 – Baker 7, Evangel 5
Baker scored three runs over the first two innings to build a lead it would not relinquish. Payton Reynolds homered twice and drove in six runs while scoring three more as part of a 3-for-3 performance at the plate.

Evangel, which rallied from early deficits to claim both ends of its doubleheader with Park on Monday, attempted to duplicate the feat against the Wildcats, scoring four times in its last two turns at-bat. Raley belted a three-run homer in the top of the seventh to pull EU to within two runs, before Marissa Lokey reached via a two-out walk to bring the potential tying run to the plate.

BU's Makayla Akin held off the late EU charge, however, striking out Abigail Posten for the final out of the contest.

After Reynolds led off the home half of the first with a home run, BU added two more runs in the second on the senior outfielder's double to deep left-center field.

Raley put EU on the board in the third wither her run-scoring single to left, after Megan Stone led off the frame with a base hit and moved to second on Ashlie Marshall's sacrifice.

Baker added another run in the fifth before Evangel trimmed the deficit to 4-2 via a two-out, Mariah Hanner single after a Wildcat error opened the door for EU.

But Reynolds promptly answered for Baker, launching a three-run homer in the home half of the sixth to hand the home club a five-run cushion.

Stone finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Kristyn Stocks contributed two hits for EU as well.

Game 2 – Evangel 3, Baker 2
Evangel rode the pitching of Emmitt (11-3) and an offense that scored single runs in three of the first four innings to a one-run decision over the Wildcats.

Emmitt struck out six hitters and allowed just four hits, working around seven walks to hand BU its first Heart Conference setback of the season.

EU grabbed a one-run lead in the first, taking advantage of singles by Stone and Lokey to plate the game's initial run on Posten's two-out hit.

Baker evened the score in the second on a Riley Zook home run, but Raley put Evangel in front to stay in the third with a one-out single to center after Stone was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Posten delivered another key blow in the fourth to help EU add to its lead. The freshman outfielder reached on an infield single to start the rally, then swiped second and third before coming home on an errant throw to give EU a 3-1 lead.

Emmitt allowed a BU run in the bottom of the inning after her own error and two walks combined to bring in the second Wildcat tally of the game. But the right-hander fanned Makenzie Musgrove with the bases loaded to extinguish the threat and preserve the one-run lead.

Baker threatened again in the sixth, putting a pair of runners in scoring position with two out. Emmitt came through again, however, striking out Reynolds for the final out of the inning, then working around a one-out walk in the seventh to close out the game.

Posten led EU with a pair of hits, two steals and an RBI, while Stone scored two runs and stole a base.

Up Next
Evangel returns to Springfield to host a Heart Conference doubleheader with William Penn Friday (April 9) at 2 p.m.

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—