Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 The Basics
Game 1: Evangel 4, Graceland 5 | Box Score
Game 2: Evangel 7, Graceland 6 | Box Score
Record: Evangel (23-23, 8-20), Graceland (18-28, 11-17)
Location: Lamoni, Iowa
LAMONI, Iowa – Valor Baseball concluded their final road series of the season on Sunday (Apr. 23) afternoon, taking on the Graceland Yellowjackets after splitting day one against the Heart North foe.
Evangel pushed out to an early lead in game three, but the home Yellowjackets were able to generate offense in the late innings to capture the lead and take a 5-4 victory over EU. In game four, Graceland again used runs in the late innings to even the score, but this time, Evangel would score the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh, taking a 7-6 win after Truett Garner shut the door in the bottom of the final inning.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Caden O'Bryan earned his first collegiate victory in game four of the series, while Gardner earned his third save of the season.
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Evangel worked 11 walks combined in games three and four.
HOW IT HAPPENED
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Evangel struck first in game three, scoring a pair of runs in the inning to take a 2-0 lead. Nathan Lamb opened the inning by getting on base via Graceland error. A Matthew Olson sacrifice bunt advanced Lamb to second and a wild pitch moved him to third. Jeremy Vickers walked on the following at bat, and an Athanie Leeviraphan single scored Lamb. After another Graceland error, Vickes advanced to third, scoring on the next at-bat when Levi Loughridge grounded into a fielder's choice.
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In the top of the fifth, Evangel recorded two quick outs at-bat, but were able to generate runs with two outs in the inning. Brennan Espy walked and Riley Mitchell entered as a courtesy runner for the catcher. Mitchell advanced to second on a passed ball and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Loughridge hit a double to score Mitchell and an Eli Cook single scored Loughridge, extending Evangel's lead to 4-0.
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Graceland scored five unanswered runs to take a 5-4 lead into the final frame. Evangel was able to get two runners on first and second, but came up short, leaving them stranded and falling 5-4 in game three.
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The Valor came out strong in game two, scoring three runs in the first inning to take an early lead. Leeviraphan walked with one out and Bre. Espy reached on a fielder's choice, advancing Leeviraphan to third. A Brooks Espy single scored Leeviraphan and a Cook double scored both brothers, putting EU ahead, 3-0. Graceland scored two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning, making it a 3-2 game.
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In the fourth inning, both teams scored three runs to make the game 6-5. Leeviraphan walked to open the inning and stole both second and third base, scoring on a Loughridge double. Rodell Andrews III entered to run for Loughridge and scored on a Bro. Espy single. Espy was able to steal second and scored on the following Cook single, ending EU's scoring in the fourth inning.
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Graceland tied the game up at 6-6 in the bottom of the fifth.
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In the top of the seventh, the Valor knew they needed a run to stay out of extra innings. Lamb opened the inning with a single and Carson Sturdefant used a pinch hit at-bat to single and advance Lamb to second. Leeviraphan came through for Evangel with the go-ahead run, hitting a single between first and second base, scoring Lamb and going ahead, 7-6.
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In the bottom of the seventh, Gardner forced two fly outs and struck out a batter to solidify Evangel's 7-6 victory and earn the save.
NEXT UP
Evangel Baseball will host the Baker Wildcats on Friday (Apr. 28) afternoon to open their final series of the 2023 season in Springfield at 1:00 p.m.
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—
