The Basics

Game 1: Evangel 6, McPherson 7 (11 inn.) | Box Score

Game 2: Evangel 3, McPherson 8 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (5-4, 0-2), McPherson (5-8, 2-0)

Location: McPherson, Kan. (Bulldog Park)

MCPHERSON, Kan. – After fighting through postponements due to cold weather conditions over the weekend, Valor Baseball was able to begin their three-game series against the McPherson Bulldogs on Sunday (Feb. 18) afternoon.

In game one's schedule nine-innings of play, Evangel jumped on the Bulldogs early, scoring five runs in the first five innings as Wyatt Keplar's quality start kept the Bulldogs at bay, but McPherson would generate enough offense to force extras in late innings, as EU fell, 7-6, in 11 innings. Game two was a seven inning affair, where the Bulldogs scored six runs in the first inning. Evangel could not overcome the early lead, falling 8-3.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Evangel hit .250 combined on Sunday, compared to McPherson's .277.

• Riley Mitchell finished Sunday 4-6 from the plate, driving in four RBIs for the bulk of Evangel's offense.

• The Evangel pitching staff struck out 21 Bulldog batters on Sunday, including eight from game one starter, Wyatt Keplar.

• Taylor McLeod continues to tout a strong bat, hitting two extra base hits (triple, home run) on Sunday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Evangel got on the board early, scoring a pair of runs in just the first inning. A Riley Mitchell triple was followed by a Levi Loughridge sacrifice fly, scoring Mitchell. In the next at-bat, Eli Cook hit a single, followed by a Taylor McLeod triple, scoring Cook and giving the Valor a 2-0 lead.

• Neither team would score until the fifth inning, when Evangel's bats came alive. Carson Studefant and Jeremy Vickers both singled with an out in the inning. Isaac Miller scored Sturdefant on a double, while Riley Mitchell cleared the bases with a single, giving the Valor a 5-0 lead.

• Wyatt Keplar continued to limit the Bulldogs offense, pitching six strong innings while allowing just two hits.

• McPherson began to chip away at the Valor bullpen in the late innings. A solo home run for MC in the seventh was followed by another run in the eighth. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Evangel had the Bulldogs down to their final out with runners on second and third. A three-run shot on a 0-0 count tied the game up at 5-5, forcing extras.

• Neither team would score in the tenth inning, but the Valor offense plated a run in the 11th. Matthew Olson and Jeremy Vickers would both single in the inning, with Olson ultimately scoring on a Riley Mitchell single to take a 6-5 lead. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs were able to generate three hits in the bottom of the inning, walking off the game on a base hit, 7-6.

• McPherson blew game two open in the bottom of the first inning. After scoring an early run, an error on the Valor kept the inning alive, as McPherson would score five additional runs in the inning after, making it a 6-0 Bulldog lead.

• MC would add an insurance run in the third inning, taking a 7-0 lead as the Valor could not generate any offensive opportunities to get on the board.

• In the sixth inning, Evangel put their first runs on the board. Matthew Olson opened the inning being hit by a pitch and ultimately scored on the following at bat, an Isaac Miller triple. Riley Mitchell hit a sacrifice fly to score Miller, and a Taylor McLeod solo home run made it a 7-3 game with just three outs for the Valor to force a comeback.

• Evangel went three up, three down in the final inning, falling 8-3 in game two.

NEXT UP

Evangel Baseball concludes their first KCAC conference series on Monday (Feb. 19) afternoon, taking on the Bulldogs in a nine-inning game, looking to avoid the sweep.

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.  

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