The Basics

Score: #3 Evangel 5, #4 Cottey 6 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (36-10), Cottey (32-20)

Location: San Antonio, Texas (St. Mary's University Softball Field)

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – After falling to the two-seeded Hope International Royals on Monday, the Valor Softball team took on the four-seeded Cottey College Comets in an elimination game for the right to advance to the opening round semifinals.

In what would prove to be a back and forth game, Cottey scored a trio of late runs to take a lead, and although the Valor offense fought, EU could not push runners from second and third base across to score, ultimately falling 6-5, ending the historic 2024 run.

NOTABLE

• Evangel and Cottey traded the lead on three separate occasions on Tuesday.

• Megan Stone had a strong day in her final collegiate game, going 3-3 and scoring four runs in the loss. Phoebe Gardner also batted a perfect 1.000 (3/3) with a run scored and an RBI.

• Naomi Perkins also batted well for EU, going 3-4 with an RBI.

• Evangel left 10 runners on base in Tuesday's game.

• Evangel's .782 winning percentage is the highest in a single season in Evangel history and is tied for the third most wins all time in a single season at EU (36).

• Evangel's seniors (Ashland Diggs, Annslee Leeviraphan, Megan Stone) earned 121 wins over their careers at Evangel, the third most by a single senior class in EU history.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After working a three up, three down top of the first, Kenna Mayfield opened the bottom of the inning by getting a base hit bunt. Although Mayfield was able to get to second, Kenna was picked off and the Valor could not push a run across, ending the first inning scoreless.

• Cottey was able to put a pair of runners on base in the top of the second, but the Valor defense was able to step up to the plate and a nice diving play from Danielle Cutbirth highlighted the inning.

• Megan Stone opened the inning with a heads up play on a bloop base hit, stretching what should have been a single to a double. Stone was able to move up to third on a wild pitch and score on a Phoebe Gardner sacrifice fly to give the Valor a 1-0 lead.

• After both teams went three up, three down in the third inning, Cottey was able to score a trio of runs in the top of the fourth to take a 3-1 lead.

• Megan Stone continued her hot day from the plate, hitting a home run to left field to make it a 3-2 ballgame in the fourth inning.

• Trailing by just a run in the sixth inning, Megan Stone opened the inning with a single to left field. Lauren Dill hit a sacrifice to advance Stone to second. A Phoebe Gardner single moved Stone to third and a wild pitch allowed Gardner to move into scoring position. An error on a Danielle Cutbirth at bat allowed Stone to score and a Naomi Perkins single scored Gardner to make it 4-3 in favor of the Valor.

• Cottey came up to bat with three outs left and were able to score three runs to take a 6-4 lead over the Valor.

• Evangel came into the bottom of the seventh inning, needing a pair of runs to extend the game. What looked to be a lead off hit ended up being an out at second base, putting Evangel in an early one out hole. The Valor rallied in the inning with an out, as Megan Stone was hit by a pitch to get on base. A line out made it two outs for EU, as the Valor were down to their last chance. A Phoebe Gardner single was followed by a Riley Johannes pinch hit double, scoring Stone and putting a pair of runners in scoring position. Naomi Perkins came up to bat needing to push across a hit to tie and possibly win the game, but the Valor could not get the needed hit, falling 6-5 to Cottey and ending their historic 2024 season.

QUOTABLE

"Although the result shows that we came up short today, I feel that this entire season has been a win for our ladies. I am proud of the fight and growth that our team has shown this year, not only on the field, but spiritually as well. I am thankful for our three seniors (Ashland Diggs, Annslee Leeviraphan, Megan Stone) and all they brought to our program during their careers.", head coach Jay Halbrook stated. "I am honored to experience the authenticity of their faith and their SOUL. They make everyone around them better people. Annslee, Megan, and Ashland worked from day 1 and became champions for Christ on and off the field."

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.