Game 1: MidAmerica Nazarene 5, Evangel 1 | Box Score
Game 2: MidAmerica Nazarene 9, Evangel 0 | Box Score
Records: Evangel (29-16, 18-15); MidAmerica Nazarene (20-20, 18-16)
Location: University Field 

Heart Conference Softball Championship Central

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Despite locking up a berth in the 2021 Heart of America Athletic Conference Softball Championship over the weekend, the Evangel softball team dropped a pair of contests to MidAmerica Nazarene to conclude its regular season at University Field.

MNU rallied with five runs in the seventh inning for a 5-1 win in game one, before cruising to a 9-0 win in the nightcap of the two clubs' final Heart Conference doubleheader of the season. Morgan Fouch delivered the go-ahead two-run double in game one, then drove in two more runs with a 2-for-4 performance in the second contest.

MNU pitching turned in a dominant afternoon against an Evangel lineup that was missing most of its regulars. Alexis Wilds struck out 14 in a complete-game win in game one, then combined with Allison Denges on a four-hit shutout to complete the sweep.

Game 1 – MidAmerica Nazarene 5, Evangel 1
Trailing 1-0 and down to their final strike, the Pioneers used Fouch's two-run double as a springboard to a five-run rally that proved to be the difference.

Wilds (10-9) turned in a dominant complete-game performance in the circle, striking out 14 EU hitters and permitting just one run on three hits to earn the victory.

MNU mounted its game-clinching charge in the seventh thanks to a pair of walks and a Hannah Tenberge sacrifice. EU's Erin Miller retired Londin Fiorella on a line drive to third baseman Sydney Hill, then worked a 1-2 count to Fouch to bring her club to the brink of victory. But the Pioneers shortstop lined a pitch into the gap in right-center, bringing in both MNU baserunners.

An Evangel error extended the inning, and the Pioneers took advantage of the miscue to plate three unearned runs for a 5-1 lead.

EU scored its lone run of the contest in the second after a leadoff walk and a Miller double set the table for Cayleigh Berry, who singled to left to drive in the game's first tally. In the circle, Bridget Rippe combined with Miller to hold the Pioneers scoreless on just three hits through the first six frames.

Wilds was equally as stingy, fanning eight of nine EU hitters from the third through the fifth innings. The sophomore allowed just one baserunner after the second and faced the minimum over the final five frames.

Game 2 – MidAmerica Nazarene 9, Evangel 0
MNU seized from the onset, using Fouch's RBI double in the top of the first to establish a lead it would not relinquish. The Pioneers' pitching took care of the rest, allowing just four hits—and a total of seven EU hits on the day—while striking out eight EU batters.

Fouch added another run-producing hit to spark MNU's four-run third inning. Audrey Denges and Caitlyn Davis came through with RBI singles as well to help the Pioneers stretch their lead to 5-0.

EU never seriously threatened, despite a 2-for-4 effort by Trystin Minnick and three shutout innings of relief from Ashland Diggs.

Allison Denges (3-0) earned the victory after holding EU to three hits in her 5.0 innings, before Wilds finished off the victory with 2.0 hitless frames and five additional strikeouts. For the afternoon, Wilds totaled 19 punchouts while allowing only three hits over 9.0 innings.

In addition to Fouch's two-hit game, Audrey Denges and Shelby Snelling added two-hit games for the Pioneers as well.

Up Next
Evangel opens play at the 2021 Heart Conference Softball Championship as the No. 6 seed Thursday (May 6), taking on No. 3 Baker in a 5 p.m., opening-round contest in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.


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