The Basics

Game 1: #1 Evangel 2, #3 Friends 3 | Box Score

Game 2: #1 Evangel 6, #8 Tabor 0 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (34-8), Tabor (24-25), Friends (34-15)

Location: Great Bend, Kan. (Great Bend Sports Complex)

GREAT BEND, Kan. – Valor Softball continued their path to a KCAC conference tournament title on Thursday (May 2nd) afternoon, needing just one win to advance to the championship series.

In game one, the Valor needed to defeat the Friends Falcons to have an advantage in the championship series. Although the Valor plated a pair of runs, the Falcons found one additional run, taking a 3-2 victory over EU and forcing the Valor into an elimination matchup with the eighth-seeded Tabor Bluejays. In game two against Tabor, the Valor bats were consistent in the third through sixth innings of play, scoring six runs and shutting out the Bluejays, 6-0, to advance to the championship series tomorrow (May 3rd) afternoon.

NOTABLE

• Ashland Diggs earned her 10th win of the season, moving to 10-3 in the win over Tabor.

• Ellie Facklam hit a home run in game one against Friends, helping keep the Valor within striking distance.

• Kenna Mayfield had a strong game for Evangel against Tabor, going 3-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Friends scored a run in the top of the second inning to open scoring, but the Valor responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring a run of their own.

• After Megan Stone was hit by a pitch, a single from Lauren Dill, a Phoebe Gardner walk, and a sacrifice fly from Danielle Cutbirth scored Stone, making it 1-1.

• The Valor bats could not generate much offense, as Friends was able to push a pair of runs across in the top of the fifth inning to take a 3-1 lead.

• Ellie Facklam crushed a ball to center field, hitting a home run to make it just 3-2, in favor of the Falcons, but the Valor offense went three up, three down in the bottom of the seventh, falling 3-2.

• In the elimination game with Tabor, the Valor had to work their way out of a bases loaded situation in the first inning and two runners in scoring position in the second inning.

• In the third, Evangel was able to push their first run across. After Dakota Hale reached base on an error, Danielle Cutbirth walked and Kenna Mayfield drilled a double to center field, scoring Hale and making it a 1-0 EU advantage.

• The Valor scored a pair of runs in the fourth inning, taking a 3-0 lead. Megan Stone singled, followed by a Lauren Dill double. Another costly Tabor error allowed both Stone and Dill to score both of the runs in the inning.

• Evangel again took advantage of an error in the fifth inning. Kenna Mayfield got on base on a bunt single and came around to score on an error to make it 4-0 Evangel.

• Another pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning gave the Valor a 6-0 lead they held to the end. After Phoebe Gardner singled, Keeley Aaron entered to run. Dakota Hale worked a walk and a sacrifice bunt from Danielle Cutbirth allowed both runners to move into scoring position. A Kenna Mayfield groundout scored Aaron and a Annslee Leeviraphan single scored Hale to make it the final score of 6-0.

UP NEXT

Valor Softball will take part in the KCAC Conference Tournament Championship Series against the #3 Friends Falcons. Evangel will need to string a pair of wins to claim the title, with a loss, the Falcons will take the title and be the KCAC's second auto bid to the national tournament.

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.