The Basics

Score: Evangel 9, Bethany 2 | Box Score

Score: Evangel 4, Bethany 0 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (10-9, 3-6), Bethany (5-13, 3-6)

Location: Lindsborg, Kan. (Phillip Anderson Field)

LINDSBORG, Kan. – Valor Baseball concluded their three-game series with Bethany on Saturday (Mar. 2) afternoon, taking on the Swedes in a nine-inning and seven inning game. 

A strong start in both games would ultimately prove to be the difference, as Evangel's pitching staff allowed just two runs to be scored throughout Saturday, en route to a 9-2 win in the nine-inning game and a 4-0 shutout win in the seven-inning game, taking the series, 2-1.

NOTABLE

• Evangel hit .242 combined on Saturday, an improvement from their batting average on Friday.

• Riley Mitchell went 4-6 from the plate on Saturday, with four runs scored and two RBIs.

• Colby Vavruska earned his third win of the season, pitching eight innings and allowing just two runs.

• Isaac Daley earned his second win of the season, pitching six innings and allowing just a single hit.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Isaac Miller opened game one with a walk, stealing second base and scoring on an error to take an early 1-0 lead. Taylor McLeod would score later in the inning, after getting on base from the error that scored Miller, on a double from Brooks Espy to take a 2-0 lead. 

• Riley Mitchell would add another run in the top of the third inning, hitting a single, stealing second, and advancing to home on a pair of errors, making it a 3-0 game.

• In the top of the fourth inning, Carson Sturdefant was hit by a pitch to get on base. After stealing second, Sturdefant scored on an Isaac Miller single. Holton Simmons, who was running for catcher Arly Miller who had singled, scored on a Riley Mitchell double, as well as Isaac Miller, making it a 6-0 game. 

• Bethany would score a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 6-2 game.

• Riley Mitchell was hit by a pitch, stole second, advanced to third on an error, and came around to score on a double play groundout in the seventh inning to give EU a 7-2 lead.

• Evangel added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Isaac Miller worked a walk and advanced to second on a Riley Mitchell bunt single. After a successful double steal, a groundout scored Miller. Mitchell would come around to score on a Levi Loughridge single, making it a 9-2 game.

• Cooper Wilken would slam the door on the Swedes in the ninth, taking game one, 9-2.

• Isaac Miller continued to tout a hot leadoff bat, singling to open game two. Miller would advance to second on a Riley Mitchell bunt single, and score with Taylor McLeod on a fielders choice, taking a 2-0 lead.

• Miller would walk and come all the way around to score on a stolen base and errors from the Swedes, making it a 3-0 Valor lead.

• In the fifth inning, Riley Mitchell would work a walk and score on a Brooks Espy single to make it a 4-0 ballgame.

• Evangel's Isaac Daley nearly pitched a no-hitter, giving up just one hit to open the final inning of play. Cooper Wilken again closed the door on the Swedes, as EU took a 4-0 win over the Swedes in game two, taking the series win.

NEXT UP

Evangel Baseball plays host to the Avila Eagles to open a three game series on Friday (Mar. 8) afternoon at 2:00 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.