Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 The Basics
Game 1: Evangel 3, Mount Mercy 1 | Box Score
Game 2: Evangel 6, Mount Mercy 15 | Box Score
Record: Evangel (16-4, 1-1), Mount Mercy (9-7, 1-1)
Location: Springfield, Mo. (University Field)
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Valor Baseball opened conference play on Friday against the Mount Mercy Mustangs, looking to kick off the conference slate similar to the start in the non-conference schedule.
The Valor were victorious in a pitcher's duel in game one, 3-1, but after several errors and facing off with tough pitching, the Valor fell in game two, 15-6.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Austin Dill had a great game on the mound for Mount Mercy, striking out 13 batters and allowing just one run en route to the win.
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Carson Sturdefant finished his afternoon with 2 RBIs, going 2-6 from the plate.
HOW IT HAPPENED
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Mount Mercy hit a solo home run on just the second pitch of game one, but this would be the Mustangs only source of offense on the scoreboard in game one as Dill shut down Mount Mercy.
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Evangel matched the run in the bottom of the first. Riley Mitchell walked and stole second base, advancing to third on a Athanie Leeviraphan single. An Eli Cook sacrifice fly to right field scored Mitchell, tying the game at 1-1.
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Over the next five innings, neither team would score as Dill and Harseim shut down both offenses. In the bottom of the sixth, the Valor were able to take a late lead. Cook singled and stole second base with two outs. A Levi Loughridge double scored Cook, putting EU ahead, 2-1. Jeremy Vickers ran for Loughridge, and an error by the MMU first baseman advanced Vickers to third. A Carson Sturdefant fielder's choice scored Vickers and solidified EU's 3-1 victory as Dill forced a flyout and struck out two batters to end the game.
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In the first inning of game two, Mount Mercy scored two runs on three Evangel errors. Brooks Espy was hit by a pitch and Mitchell courtesy ran for Espy. A Nathan Lamb sacrifice bunt advanced Mitchell to second while a Leeviraphan flyout moved him to third. An error scored Mitchell and a Brennan Espy single followed by an error scored Cook, making it a 2-2 game.
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Mount Mercy scored a run in the top of the second and five runs in the top of the fourth to take a 8-2 lead over Evangel.
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A Sturdefant home run to left field cut the Mustangs lead, making it 8-3.
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Mount Mercy broke the game wide open in the top of the fifth, scoring seven runs on several Evangel errors to take a 15-3 lead.
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Evangel scored three runs in the final two innings of the match but couldn't muster enough offense to fuel a comeback, falling 15-5 and splitting with Mount Mercy in day one.
NOTABLE
NEXT UP
Evangel Baseball concludes the conference weekend against Mount Mercy on Saturday afternoon, beginning at noon in Springfield, Mo.
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—
