The Basics

Game 1: Evangel 4, MidAmerica Nazarene 9 | Box Score

Game 2: Evangel 7, MidAmerica Nazarene 8 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (21-19, 6-16), MidAmerica Nazarene (22-17, 15-7)

Location: Olathe, Kan.

OLATHE, Kan. – Valor Baseball opened a four game road series with the MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers on Thursday (Apr. 13) afternoon, looking to grab a pair of wins and remain in the hunt for a bid to the conference baseball tournament.

Evangel earned a lead in the top of the fifth in game one, but a large offensive output from the Pioneers in the bottom of the fifth pushed MNU ahead as the Pioneers preserved their lead in the late innings, giving Evangel a 9-4 loss in game one. In game two, Evangel took an early lead, but MNU was able to tie the game up, leading to a walk-off in the bottom of the seventh for the Pioneers as EU fell, 8-7.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Evangel recorded a combined 20 hits on day one.

• Eli Cook led the Valor at the plate, going a combined 5-7 with two RBIs, a walk, and a run scored.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• MNU opened scoring in the bottom of the second, taking an early 1-0 lead on a solo home run.

• Evangel responded to the MNU run with two runs of their own in the top of the third. Matthew Olson singled to left field and scored on the following at bat when Jeremy Vickers hit a home run, giving the Valor a 2-1 lead.

• The Pioneers scored two additional runs in the bottom of the fourth, taking a 3-2 lead.

• The Valor again responded to MNU's scoring the following inning, scoring a pair of runs to take a 4-3 lead. With two outs, Levi Loughridge singled to up the middle, scoring on a Brennan Espy double to left field. Cook followed Espy's at bat with a single, scoring Espy and ending Evangel's scoring in the fifth inning and game.

• MNU scored six unanswered runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 9-4 lead. 

• Evangel was able to generate offense in the top of the sixth, loading the bases, but left all three runners stranded, ultimately falling, 9-4.

• The Valor took an early 3-0 lead in game two, using a strong offensive inning where seven Valor athletes got on base. Athanie Leeviraphan walked, followed by a Loughridge walk. Leeviraphan scored on a Brennan Espy single and MNU error. A Cook walk loaded the bases for EU and a Nathan Lamb single up the middle scored both Loughridge and Espy.

• MNU scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning to make it a 3-2 game, but in the top of the second, Evangel again plated a run. Jeremy Vickers doubled and scored on a pair of Evangel groundouts, giving EU a two run advantage, 4-2.

• Eli Cook hit a towering shot to deep left field in the top of the third to extend the Valor lead to 5-2, but the Pioneers were able to capture the lead, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the third and fourth innings, 6-5.

• After a Brennan Espy single in the top of the fifth, Riley Mitchell entered to run. A Cook single advanced Mitchell to third and Mitchell scored on a MNU passed ball to even the game at 6-6.

• The Pioneers retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth, but again the Valor responded with a run of their own. Matthew Olson walked and advanced to second on a Vickers sacrifice bunt. Olson scored on a Loughridge single up the middle to tie the game at 7-7 in the sixth inning.

• Evangel was unable to generate any additional offense in the top of the seventh and the MNU bats came alive in the bottom of the final inning as they found a walk-off single, giving the Pioneers an 8-7 victory.

NEXT UP

Evangel Baseball will conclude their four game series with MNU on Friday (Apr. 14) afternoon, beginning at 12:00 p.m. in Olathe, Kansas.

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—