Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 The Basics
Game One: Evangel 6, Graceland 2 (9 inn.) | Box Score
Game Two: Evangel 6, Graceland 7 | Box Score
Record: Evangel (16-8, 3-1), Graceland (10-6, 1-1)
Location: Lamoni, Iowa
LAMONI, Iowa – After a successful doubleheader sweep of Peru State, Valor Softball traveled to Lamoni to take on the Graceland Yellowjackets, looking to continue their dominant conference opening weekend.
Evangel won game one in an extra inning thriller, 6-2, after Samantha Romano threw a complete game win. In game two, the Valor trailed for the majority of the match, nearly mounting a comeback in the final inning, but falling short with a runner in scoring position, 7-6.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Samantha Romano earned her sixth win of the season in game one.
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Evangel hit four home runs in the game one win.
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Megan Stone hit three home runs combined on Saturday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
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Graceland took an early 1-0 lead in game one in the bottom of the first inning.
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In the top of the fourth, Stone hit a solo home run. Just two at bats later, Mariah Hanner followed Stone's homer up with a blast of her own, giving EU a 2-1 lead.
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Graceland was able to even the score with a homer of their own, tying the game up at two runs a piece and ultimately forcing extras.
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The Valor could not break through in the eighth, but found a strong offensive burst in the ninth to break the game wide open. Stone hit her second solo shot of the game to give EU a 3-2 lead. A Hanner single and Kenna Mayfield single was followed by Annslee Leeviraphan's first collegiate home run, putting EU ahead, 6-2, and finalizing the victory for EU.
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In game two, the Valor opened the game by loading the bases on a Brooke Arnold hit by pitch, Stone walk, and a Ali Raley bunt single. Hanner hit a sacrifice fly to score a run, followed by a Graceland error that scored two Valor runs. Another Yellowjacket miscue scored the fourth and final run of the inning, putting Evangel ahead, 4-0.
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The Yellowjackets found their biggest offensive surge in the bottom of the second and third innings, scoring seven runs to take a 7-4 lead.
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Evangel could not muster any additional runs in the match until the seventh inning. Perkins opened the inning with a single to right field and Stone hit her third home run of the afternoon, making it a 7-6 game in favor of Graceland. Raley singled with one out and a groundout advanced her pinch runner, Morgan Shockley, into scoring position with two outs. Ultimately, Shockley would be left stranded at second, as EU came up just short, 7-6, in game two.
NOTABLE
UP NEXT
The Valor will return home next Friday (Mar. 31) for a doubleheader with the William Penn Statesmen, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at University Field.
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—
