The Basics

Game 1: Evangel 0, College of the Ozarks 4 | Box Score

Game 2: Evangel 4, College of the Ozarks 3 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (1-5), CofO (2-2)

Location: Springfield, Mo. (University Field)

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Valor Baseball opened their first home series of the season on Friday (Feb. 7) afternoon, hosting their longtime rivals, the College of the Ozarks Bobcats, in search of their first win of the season.

The Valor offense would outhit the Bobcats in game one, but costly errors in the third inning hurt Evangel's chances, as EU was shutout, 4-0, in game one. Needing to bounce back in game two, the Valor did just that, using a three run third inning and a home run to left field from Quentin Edwards to push their way to a 4-3 win, head coach Sam Jones first in his collegiate coaching career.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Bobcats scored the first run of the afternoon on a balk, giving CofO a 1-0 lead.

• The Valor bats stayed quiet in the first two innings and an error with two outs kept the inning alive for the Bobcats in the third, allowing CofO to score three runs and take a 4-0 lead.

• Evangel was able to get a pair of runners in scoring position from innings four through six, but could not put a run on the scoreboard.

• In the bottom of the seventh, the Valor bats got hot as Shane Poe singled, Clay Palen was hit by a pitch, and Brendan Coffindaffer singled to load the bases with just one out. With the tying run at the plate, the Valor hit into a double play, falling in game one, 4-0.

• Evangel got the scoring started in game two, with three runs coming across home plate with two outs in the third inning. Peyton Gayer singled, followed by a Matthew Olson single. Gayer stole third base and scored on an Evan Baptiste single to left field. Both Baptiste and Olson came around to score on a Quentin Edwards double down the left field line, giving EU a 3-0 lead.

• The Bobcats would rally, scoring three runs in the top of the fifth to tie the game up at 3-3.

• After providing Evangel with a two out double to score a pair of runners in the third, Quentin Edwards once again proved clutch, hitting a blast to left field to give the Valor a 4-3 lead over the Bobcats.

• Hayden Larson entered in relief for Evangel, shutting the door on a Bobcat comeback attempt and earning his first save of the season in EU's 4-3 win.

QUOTABLE 

"I'm incredibly proud of the response from our guys today. Our pitchers did an outstanding job filling up the zone all day. We got a great start from Wyatt Keplar and the TJ Newman came in and filled it up and picked up some big outs. Hayden Larson shut the door with some big pitches," head coach Sam Jones stated. "Our offense finally got rolling a little in the second game and the big Q man (Quentin Edwards) came up clutch with the home run. The job is not done though. We need to keep competing and making the Lord's name known through the game of baseball."

NOTABLE

• Evangel outhit COFO on Friday, 11-10.

• Edwards led Evangel with three RBIs and a run scored on Friday.

• TJ Newman earned his first win in game two while Hayden Larson earned his first save.

• Evangel took their first win over College of the Ozarks since 2021, breaking a four game losing streak.

NEXT UP

Evangel Baseball heads south to conclude their series with College of the Ozarks on Saturday (Feb. 8) afternoon at noon in Point Lookout, Missouri.

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.