The Basics

Game 1: #24 Evangel 3, (RV) Friends 0 | Box Score

Game 2: #24 Evangel 10, (RV) Friends 7 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (24-6, 8-2), Friends (19-9, 7-3)

Location: Wichita, Kan. (Two Rivers Youth Complex)

WICHITA, Kan. – Valor Softball hit the road to continue their gauntlet of conference matchups, taking on the Friends Falcons, who were receiving votes in the previous top 25 national rating.

In game one, Maddy Meierer and Riley Wertz, two of the top pitchers in the nation, faced off, with Meierer earning the win behind timely hitting from the Valor offense, 3-0. Game two proved to be opposite from the pitcher's duel of game one, as offense proved plenty for both teams with Evangel coming out on top, 10-7, sweeping the Falcons on Tuesday.

NOTABLE

• Maddy Meierer earned the win in game one, moving to 13-2 on the season and lowering her ERA to 1.15, also earning the save in game two.

• Kenna Mayfield, Ellie Facklam, and Riley Johannes all drove in runs in game one.

• E. Facklam finished with four RBIs on Tuesday to lead EU.

• Bodie Smith earned her second win of the season in game two.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first four innings of play in game one were light on offense, as both pitchers allowed no runs, while Maddy Meierer took a no hitter into the bottom of the fifth inning.

• Evangel scored a pair of runs in the top of the fifth with Kenna Mayfield making things happen, working a walk and stealing both second and third base. A Ellie Facklam single scored Mayfield, breaking the drought, while Facklam came across to score on a Riley Johannes sacrifice fly to make it a 2-0 game.

• Friends earned both of their hits in the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Valor defense came up clutch, shutting down the Falcons and maintaining their 2-0 lead.

• Camryn Casey opened the top of the sixth inning with a double, coming across to score and solidify Evangel's 3-0 win on a Kenna Mayfield single.

• Mayfield singled on a bunt to open game two and scored on a E. Facklam double, while Naomi Perkins scored on a Johannes sacrifice fly to put EU ahead, 2-0.

• Friends scored their first run of the afternoon in the bottom of the second inning.

• Evangel added a pair of runs in the third inning after E. Facklam singled and Karlie Romines hit her fifth home run this season, giving EU a 4-1 lead.

• The Falcons tied the game up at 4-4 by scoring three runs in the bottom of the third.

• The Valor responded with three runs of their own in the top of the fourth inning as Casey reached base on an error and scored with Lauren Dill who had walked on a Kenna Mayfield single. Danielle Cutbirth singled in the inning and also scored on a E. Facklam single to put EU ahead, 7-4.

• Runs from Friends in the fourth and fifth innings made it a 7-6 ballgame, heading into the sixth inning of play.

• The Valor added key insurance runs in the sixth inning as singles from E. Facklam and Johannes scored Mayfield and Perkins with E. Facklam scoring on a bases loaded walk, giving Evangel a 10-6 lead.

• Friends added an additional run in the bottom of the sixth, but Meierer began to pitch in relief, closing the door on the Falcons and giving EU a 10-7 win.

QUOTABLE

"Today was a fun day at the ballpark. It felt like a championship atmosphere throughout the day. Days like this pay off down the road in pressure situations. We feel really good about where we are defensively and offensively," head coach Jay Halbrook stated. "We have incredible young ladies and we are blessed when we know and remember who we are out there playing for."

UP NEXT

Evangel Softball takes on the Tabor College Bluejays on Saturday (Mar. 29) afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in Hillsboro, Kan., for a doubleheader matchup.

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.