The Basics

Game 3: (RV) Evangel 3, #1 OLLU 2 | Box Score

Game 4: (RV) Evangel 7, #1 OLLU 8 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (2-2), Our Lady of the Lake (2-2)

Location: San Antonio, Texas (OLLU Softball Field)

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Valor Softball concluded their four game series with #1 Our Lady of the Lake on Saturday (Feb. 1) afternoon, looking to earn at least a split with the defending national champions.

The Valor came out and used the long ball in game three to fight their way to a 3-2 victory behind a strong performance once again from Maddy Meierer. In game four, Evangel would take a 7-1 lead in the fourth inning, but OLLU took advantage of Valor miscues and took a walk off victory, 7-8, as both teams earned a split in the series.

NOTABLE

• Maddy Meierer took the win in game three, throwing a complete game and earning her second win of the season.

• Karlie Romines and Ellie Facklam both hit home runs in game three, fueling Evangel to victory.

• Ellie Facklam and Naomi Perkins both went 3-4 in game four, while Kenna Mayfield went 2-3, helping Evangel finish with 14 hits.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Valor put offensive pressure on OLLU in the first two innings of play on Saturday and a Karlie Romines home run gave the Valor a 1-0 lead.

• OLLU responded in the fourth inning, scoring a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead over Evangel.

• Evangel responded quickly, using a Kenna Mayfield double and Ellie Facklam home run to put the Valor ahead, 3-2.

• Maddy Meierer shut the Saints offense down, not allowing another run as EU took a 3-2 win in game three.

• Evangel's offense exploded to open game four, as Mayfield reached on an error and scored on a Naomi Perkins triple. A Romines double scored E. Facklam, while a Camryn Casey single scored Romines, making it a 3-0 ballgame.

• In the second inning, Kenna Mayfield was hit by a pitch, followed by singles from Perkins and E. Facklam to put the Valor ahead 4-0.

• OLLU scored on a sacrifice fly to make it a 4-1 game.

• In the top of the third, Casey hit a single, followed by a base hit from Riley Johannes, which scored Casey on a error. Karli Facklam reached on an error and scored on a Dakota Hale single, making it a 6-1 game.

• The trio of Mayfield, E. Facklam, and Perkins all recorded hits to score Mayfield, giving Evangel their 7-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning.

• OLLU scored three runs in the fourth inning and were held scoreless until the bottom of the seventh. Evangel would get a pair of outs and be just an out away, but an unfortunate miscue allowed the inning to continue, as the Saints stormed back, taking a 7-8 walkoff win in game four.

QUOTABLE

"Maddy Meierer had another great outing for us today in game three. Karlie Romines and Ellie Facklam's home runs were big, accounting for all our runs. We were able to hold on and get another win. Game four we jumped out early, took a 7-4 lead into the seventh and ultimately we just gave up too many free bases," head coach Jay Halbrook stated. "Again, they are a championship team and they know how to captilize on mistakes. It was a nice opening weekend for us, getting the opportunity to compete against high level competition. Finishing 2-2 is a nice testament to where our kids are. The beauty of a weekend like this shows that we still have stuff to work on and can continue to get better!"

UP NEXT

Evangel will return to Missouri and compete in the Branson Bash at the Branson RecPlex on Friday (Feb. 7) afternoon, taking on Saint Mary of the Woods at 1:00 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.