The Basics

Game 1: Evangel 5, Southwestern 2 | Box Score

Game 2: Evangel 4, Southwestern 1 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (4-0), Southwestern (0-4)

Location: Springfield, Mo. (University Field)

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – After a strong first day of doubleheader play against Southwestern College, the Valor concluded their four game series with the Moundbuilders on Sunday. Strong starting and relief pitching was coupled with timely hitting, as the Valor completed the opening weekend sweep, 5-2 and 4-1, over Southwestern College.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Levi Loughridge went 3-5 from the dish throughout day two, finishing with three singles, an RBI and a walk. Loughridge also earned a save in relief in game one.

• Rolando Galvez claimed the win in game one, holding Southwestern to just two earned runs in the 5-2 victory.

• Colby Vavruska struck out nine batters in his Valor debut in game two, earning the 4-1 victory against Southwestern.

• Truett Gardner earned a save in relief in game two.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Southwestern kicked off Sunday by getting on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead on a groundout.

• Brennan Espy quickly responded for Evangel by being hit by a pitch and scoring, advancing to second and third on groundouts and putting up a run on an Eli Cook double to left field, tying the game at 1-1.

• Southwestern scored their final run in game one on a sacrifice fly in the second inning, giving the Moundbuilders a 2-1 lead.

• A Brennan Espy walk and single by Nathan Lamb put Espy on third. Espy scored soon after on an Athanie Leeviraphan sacrifice fly to center field, tying the game once again at 2-2.

• In the fourth inning, Nathan Weatherly walked and Kyle Johnson entered the game to courtesy run. After a wild pitch moved Johnson to second, a Loughridge single moved Johnson to third. Johnson scored on the next at bat, to give Evangel a 3-2 lead. 

• In the fifth inning, Evangel put up their final two runs of game one. Lamb singled and advanced to second on a Leeviraphan sacrifice bunt. A Cook single moved Lamb to third where he scored from on a Brooks Espy sacrifice fly. Cook stole second and Arly Miller walked bringing Loughridge back up to bat. A single scored Cook, giving Evangel a 5-2 lead they maintained to the end.

• Solid pitching from both starters in game two kept either team from scoring in the first two innings. In the bottom of the third inning, Evangel got the ball rolling. A Jeremy Vickers single was followed by Lamb being hit by a pitch. Leeviraphan singled to score Vickers and move Lamb to third. Just a few pitches after, Leeviraphan was caught in a rundown, but wisely ducked beneath the tag from the first baseman and amidst the play, Lamb stole home, giving Evangel a 2-0 lead.

• The fifth inning began exactly how the third inning began, with a Vickers single and Lamb hit by pitch. The difference this time was a Leeviraphan double that scored Vickers. Cook was then hit by a pitch to put the bases loaded for Evangel. On what turned out to be a confusing play, Brennan Espy popped the ball up to shallow right field, but was called out on the infield fly rule. Lamb advanced home on the same play to give Evangel a 4-0 lead.

• Southwestern was able to add a run in the sixth inning, but a shutdown seventh inning from Gardner preserved the win for EU, 4-1, giving the Valor the four game sweep of Southwestern.

NOTABLE

• The combination of Vavruska and Gardner gave up just four hits in game two.

• Leeviraphan finished with a double and two RBIs in game two.

• The Evangel defense recorded a 1.000 fielding percentage, not committing a single error in both games.

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.  

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