Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 The Basics
Game 1: Evangel 9, Clarke 1 (5 inn.) | Box Score
Game 2: Evangel 6, Clarke 3 | Box Score
Record: Evangel (26-16, 13-9), Clarke (11-26, 4-16)
Location: Springfield, Mo.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Valor Softball concluded their home stand on Saturday, hosting the Clarke Pride for a doubleheader, looking to bounce back after dropping a pair of games the previous day.
Evangel's offense came out firing in game one, dominating for nearly the entire match and run-ruling the Pride, 9-1. In game two, the Valor used a big third inning to take a lead that they held to the finish, claiming a 6-3 victory and sweep of the Pride.
NOTABLE
HOW IT HAPPENED
-
Clarke put up the first run on the scoreboard on Saturday in game one, using a solo home run to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
-
Evangel went scoreless in the bottom of the first and neither team scored in the second inning, but the Valor broke through in the third inning.
-
In the bottom of the third, Cayleigh Berry walked, stole second base, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a Clarke error, after the pitcher attempted to field a Megan Stone bunt. Stone advanced all the way to second on the error and scored on a Brooke Arnold single. Arnold advanced to third on an error by the Clarke shortstop and scored with Mariah Hanner after a pair of errors by Clarke, putting the Valor ahead, 4-1.
-
Evangel scored an additional three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-1 lead. Josie Allcock-Sperry doubled to open the inning, scoring on a Naomi Perkins single to right field. Perkins displayed her speed by stealing second and third base on back to back pitches, followed by Stone being hit by a pitch. Stone stole second base, putting two runners in scoring position for Arnold, who hit a single to right field, scoring both Perkins and Stone.
-
The Valor were able to end the game with the run-rule in the bottom of the fifth. Ali Raley singled and Lili Merrick entered to run for the catcher. A groundout advanced Merrick to second and Merrick scored on the next at-bat, a Kenna Mayfield single to center field. Mayfield advanced to second on the throw and scored on the walk-off hit from Allcock-Sperry, claiming a 9-1 victory in game one and breaking their five game losing streak.
-
Clarke again scored first in the first inning of game two, taking an early 1-0 lead.
-
Evangel quickly matched the Pride in the bottom of the first. Stone was hit by a pitch, followed by a Brooke Arnold walk to put runners on first and second. An Ali Raley single scored Stone, tying the game up at 1-1.
-
In the bottom of the third, Mariah Hanner doubled, followed by an Allcock-Sperry walk. Annslee Leeviraphan walked to load the bases for Berry. Berry singled to left field, scoring both Hanner and Sperry, and a Clarke error allowed Leeviraphan to score and Berry to advance to second. Naomi Perkins reached on another Pride error and Berry was able to score, pushing EU ahead, 5-1.
-
Clarke scored two runs in the top of the sixth to narrow Evangel's lead, 5-3, but Evangel's Stone hit a solo home run in the bottom of the inning, making it a 6-3 ballgame.
-
Cordell retired the side in order in the top of the seventh as the Valor took the 6-3 victory.
UP NEXT
The Valor hit the road for their final regular season road matches on Friday (Apr. 28) afternoon, taking on the Benedictine Ravens in Atchison, Kan.
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—
