The Basics

Game 1: Evangel 10, Friends 16 | Box Score

Game 2: Evangel 6, Friends 9 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (11-13, 4-10), Friends (18-8, 9-5)

Location: Springfield, Mo. (University Field)

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Valor Baseball concluded their home stand on Tuesday (Mar. 12) afternoon, hosting the Friends Falcons for a nine-inning and seven-inning doubleheader in Springfield.

Offense was not an issue for Evangel on Tuesday, as the Valor were able to score 16 combined runs, Unfortunately, offense was also not an issue for the Falcons, as they scored 25 combined runs, forcing EU to fall, 16-10, in game one and 9-6, in game two.

NOTABLE

• Evangel hit a strong .358 combined on Tuesday, led by a 4-7 combined showing from Isaac Miller.

• The KCAC's leader in batting average, Riley Mitchell had a pair of strong games, going 4-8 (.500) with two runs, an RBI, and a walk.

• Evangel hit five extra base hits on Tuesday.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Evangel opened game one by scoring four runs in the first inning. A lead off home run from Isaac Miller was followed up by a Brooks Espy single. Loughridge singled to score Espy, and a Taylor McLeod home run scored Loughridge, making it a 4-0 game.

• Friends would score four runs to tie the game in the second inning, but Evangel would score a pair of runs to retake the lead, 6-4. After Carson Sturdefant was hit by a pitch, Riley Mitchell hit a triple, scoring Sturdefant. Mitchell would score on an error from Friends to make it a 6-4 game.

• Friends would score a run in the third and two runs in the fourth to take a 7-6 lead over EU. 

• Evangel responded by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Jeremiah Leaming would open the inning with a single, followed by a Carson Sturdefant walk and Holton Simmons single to load the bases. Isaac Miller would hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game, 7-7. After Riley Mitchell worked a walk to load the bases, Brooks Espy would hit a single to score both Sturdefant and Simmons, making it a 9-7 EU lead. 

• Although Evangel would score a run in the bottom of the seventh, on a Matthew Olson single that scored Carson Sturdefant who had doubled to get on base, Friends would score nine runs in the final three innings, taking a 16-10 win over EU.

• Friends opened game two with a five run first inning, making it a 5-0 game.

• The Falcons would score two runs in the top of the third, taking a 7-0 lead, but Evangel would respond in the bottom of the inning. A Matthew Olson single was followed by another Isaac Miller home run, making it a 7-2 game, in favor of the visitors.

• Evangel would once again threaten in the bottom of the fifth inning. After Matthew Olson reached on a fielder's choice, Isaac Miller would single to advance Olson to second. A Riley Mitchell single would load the bases for EU. Brooks Espy would hit a clutch single to score both Olson and Miller, making it a 7-4 game. Taylor McLeod worked a walk to load the bases and a line out double play would get the Falcons out of trouble in the inning.

• Friends scored a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to take a 9-4 lead over EU.

• The Valor created drama in the final inning, as Isaac Miller would get on base by working a walk. Riley Mitchell would hit a double to put Miller on third base, and a Taylor McLeod single would score both runners, making it a 9-6 game. Unfortunately, the Valor could not generate any additional offense in the inning, falling 9-6 in game two.

NEXT UP

Evangel Baseball hits the road tomorrow (Mar. 13) afternoon to take on rival College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri, for a single nine-inning game, beginning at 3:00 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—