Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Valor hosted their first weekend doubleheader of the year on Friday against the visiting Cougars of Columbia College. Evangel fell in game one, 5-1, and in game two, 10-8, after the Cougars overcame an Evangel lead in the sixth.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Evangel (8-5) recorded only four hits in the first game, a 5-1 loss to the Cougars. Columbia recorded crucial hits in the third to grab a lead and in the seventh to push the game out of reach.

• The Cougars' Dan Fick (2-0) claimed the complete game victory for Columbia in game one, as Austin Dill (3-2) recorded the loss after also pitching a complete game with seven strikeouts.

• Game two was full of offense on both sides, with Columbia using the strength of 12 hits to power their way to a win over the Valor, 10-8.

• Zach Johnston recorded the start in game two, but the loss was ultimately credited to Noah Suiter (0-1) after three runs were given up in the sixth inning.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Game one was a battle between both teams aces. Neither team had anything going on offense until the third when Columbia scored two runs off a sacrifice bunt and a single.

• Evangel found their lone run of the first game off the long ball, as Brandon Ulm powered the first home run of his career to left field.

• The pitching battle continued until the seventh inning, when Brett Mooney was scored off a passed ball and Tom McKenna homered to left field, giving Columbia the insurance runs they needed.

• The second game of the afternoon kicked off scoring quickly, as the Cougars put three consecutive men on to load the bases. After a pop out to first base, Columbia smashed a grand slam over the left field wall, giving themselves a 4-0 lead.

• Johnston was able to work through the remainder of the first unscathed, but would give up three runs in the second inning.

• The Valor offense matched Columbia's first inning with a four run inning of their own. Gage Harris singled and was scored by Mason Hansen. Hansen scored thanks to an Athanee Leeviraphan triple. Leeviraphan made it home on a Dalton Cook sacrifice, and Stephen Belcher singled to score Aidan Satterfield.

• EU's second inning was one run short of matching Columbia's second, as Noah Suiter singled to score Hansen and Leeviraphan.

• Evangel grabbed the lead in the fourth inning, thanks to a Leeviraphan homer to deep center field, giving him his third hit and third RBI of the game.

• Parker Dinwiddie and Dylan Gallup kept the Valor in the lead by pitching well in the middle innings of the ball game, only giving up two hits over three innings of work.

• Columbia struck again in the sixth inning, scoring three runs on two hits and an Evangel error, giving Columbia an 10-8 lead. Columbia's closer came in and closed the game out, thanks to a double play ball in the final frame.

NOTABLE

• Leeviraphan had a big day, finishing with three hits and three RBIs, as well as his second career home run.

• Dill struck out his 30th batter of the season in game one, currently with 34 strikeouts this year.

• Ulm hit his first career home run in the first game of the afternoon.

UP NEXT

Evangel will continue their weekend doubleheader tomorrow (Mar. 5) with a 12 p.m. start against Columbia College.

For the latest information on Evangel Athletics, visit Facebook at Facebook.com/EvangelValor, Twitter (@EvangelValor), or EvangelAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on their favorite EU teams by downloading the Evangel Athletics Gameday App through the App Store or Google Play.  

—#OneValor—