The Basics

Game One: Evangel 5, (RV) Ottawa 3 | Box Score

Game Two: Evangel 10, (RV) Ottawa 12 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (10-5), Ottawa (14-4)

Location: Springfield, Mo. (Meador Park)

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Valor Softball hosted the Ottawa Braves, future KCAC opponent, on Monday evening at Meador Park, looking to upset the receiving votes squad.

A strong overall effort in game one led to a Valor victory, 5-3, but a 10-run inning in game two for Ottawa proved detrimental, causing the Valor to fall and split the series, 12-10.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Romano pitched a complete game win in game one, moving to 4-3 this season, and allowing just two earned runs.

• Evangel showed great discipline at the plate in game one, striking out just twice in the game.

• Mariah Hanner went 5-7 from the plate with 4 RBIs.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Evangel kicked off scoring in the bottom of the third with two runs. A Brooke Arnold single was followed by a Megan Stone single. An Ali Raley single scored Arnold and a Hanner single scored Stone, giving EU a 2-0 lead.

• Ottawa cut the Evangel lead in half with a run of their own in the top of the fourth, but a three run spot in the bottom of the fifth pushed Evangel back out to a solid lead.

• Arnold singled, followed by a Stone walk to put two runners on. A Raley sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position for Hanner who doubled to score them both. A Kenna Mayfield double scored Hanner and gave Evangel a 5-1 lead.

• The Braves scored two runs over the final two innings, but could not generate enough offense to mount a comeback as the Valor won, 5-3.

• Ottawa hit a home run to open game two, but the Valor were able to score four runs to take a 4-1 lead at the end of the inning. Arnold doubled and a Raley single scored her. A Hanner double and Mayfield single scored Raley, while a Brave miscue scored Hanner. Leeviraphan singled to load the bases for Evangel and a Naomi Perkins walk scored Mayfield, ending the first inning scoring.

• An Ottawa run in the third was matched by Evangel when singles by Mayfield and Cayleigh Berry put runners on and a Leeviraphan double scored Mayfield, making it 5-2.

• The top of the Valor lineup again came through for Evangel in the bottom of the fourth. An Arnold single and Raley double scored Brooke, followed by a Hanner double that scored Keeley Arnold, who was running for Raley. Hanner then came in to score on an error on the Braves shortstop, giving Evangel an 8-2 lead.

• Evangel's offensive work would be wiped away in the fifth inning as Ottawa was able to score 10 runs, eight of which came with two outs in the inning as the Braves took a 12-8 lead into the bottom of the fifth.

• The Evangel offense made noise in the top of the seventh as a Perkins single was followed by a Arnold home run, but a ground out to short with a runner on first would end the Valor's chances, 12-10.

NOTABLE

• Evangel moved to 10-5 (.667) on the season.

• The Valor offense generated 26 hits on Monday.

UP NEXT

Evangel will head to McPherson, Kan., to take part in the McPherson Classic. Evangel takes on Presentation College at 9:00 a.m. on Friday (Mar. 10) morning in game one of the weekend.

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—