The Basics

Game One: Evangel 8, (16) Grand View 0 (6 inn.) | Box Score

Game Two: Evangel 7, (16) Grand View 0 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (18-8, 5-1), Grand View (17-7, 3-3)

Location: Springfield, Mo.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – After opening conference play last weekend with a 3-1 record against Peru State and Graceland, Valor Softball looked to take a pivotal cross division series against the nationally ranked Grand View Vikings.

The Valor used timely hitting and capitalized on Vikings miscues in game one to run rule Grand View, 8-0, and proceeded to carry their strong overall play into game two, shutting out the Vikings, 7-0, to sweep 16th ranked Grand View.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Samantha Romano earned her seventh win of the season in game one, shutting out the Vikings and allowing just one hit.

• Micaiah Cordell recorded her eighth win of the year in game two, coming in in relief for Romano who started game two.

• Brooke Arnold continued to have a strong bat, finishing Saturday going 3-7, including a grand slam in game one that broke the game wide open.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both Evangel and Grand View were locked in a pitcher's duel for the first three innings of game one. Both teams only allowed a single runner to get on base in the first three innings.

• In the bottom of the fourth, the Valor took advantage of a pair of Vikings errors. Megan Stone hit a fly ball to left field and indecision by the left fielder caused the ball to fall. Stone scored on a dropped fly ball on a hit by Ali Raley, putting the Valor ahead, 1-0. Kenna Mayfield hit a single up the middle, scoring Keeley Aaron who had entered to run for Raley, making it a 2-0 game.

• Evangel found additional runs in the bottom of the fifth. Annslee Leeviraphan was hit by a pitch, followed by a Cayleigh Berry bunt single and Grand View error to load the bases for Arnold. Brooke found her pitch and hit a long fly ball to straight away center field, hitting a grand slam to put the Valor ahead, 6-0. Stone followed the home run up with a single and scored on a Raley single, bringing Evangel within one run of the run rule.

• After Romano shut down the Vikings bats in the top of the sixth, Evangel again loaded the bases on a Arnold double, Stone walk, and Karlie Romines walk. Mariah Hanner batted in the mercy rule run on a solid single to left field, giving EU the 8-0 victory.

• Evangel opened game two with four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Arnold singled, followed by a Stone single to center field. Raley cleared the bases with a double, putting EU ahead, 2-0. Raley stole home on a perfectly executed double steal after Mayfield swiped second. For the fourth and final run, Mayfield scored on a Leeviraphan bunt, making it a 4-0 Evangel lead.

• Romano pitched three scoreless innings in game two, followed by Cordell's entrance in the fourth inning. Cordell worked a scoreless top of the fourth and in the bottom of the fourth, the Valor capped off all scoring. Berry was hit by a pitch and a Morgan Shockley bunt single put two runners on base. With two outs, Raley came up to bat and smoked a pitch left over the middle of the plate, hitting a three run home run, pushing the Valor to a 7-0 lead.

• Cordell shut down the Vikings bats over the final three innings, guiding the Valor to their 7-0 victory and sweep of Grand View.

NOTABLE

• Raley provided a spark at the plate, finishing 4-6 from the plate on Saturday.

• The win was an extra sweet victory sponsored by Saint George's Donuts for every Evangel win over a nationally ranked opponent. Grand View was ranked No. 16 before Saturday's game.

UP NEXT

The Valor will remain at home tomorrow (Apr. 2) for a doubleheader with the William Penn Statesmen, beginning at 1:30 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—