The Basics

Score: #2 Evangel 2, #1 Friends 0 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (39-10), Friends (35-12)

Location: Branson, Mo. (Branson RecPlex)

BRANSON, Mo. – Valor Softball returned to action on Thursday (May 1) morning, taking on the top seeded Friends Falcons in the KCAC Conference Tournament Semifinals. 

In what began as a pitchers duel between the former KCAC Pitcher of the Year (Meierer) and the current KCAC Pitcher of the Year (Wertz),  the Valor would generate a pair of runs as EU took a 2-0 victory behind a 13-strikeout performance from Maddy Meierer.

NOTABLE

• Evangel's leaders in RBIs, Karlie Romines and Ellie Facklam, both drove in runs on Thursday.

• Romines hit her 12th home run of the season in the 2-0 win.

• Maddy Meierer earned her 22nd win in the circle on Thursday.

• With Friends win over Avila in the semifinal elimination game, the Valor Softball team has clinched the second automatic bid to nationals, regardless of tomorrow's contest results.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Neither team was able to record any run scoring offense in the first two innings of play, but the Valor came through in the top of the third inning, scoring Naomi Perkins on a Ellie Facklam single, after Perkins had singled to get on base.

• In the bottom of the fifth, Friends was able to get a pair of runners in scoring position with one out, but Maddy Meierer was able to get out of trouble, striking out back-to-back batters to leave the runners stranded.

• The momentum from the strikeouts carried over to the top of the sixth inning, as Karlie Romines blasted a solo home run to right center field, extending Evangel's lead to 2-0.

• Meierer and the Valor defense worked a three up, three down sixth and in the seventh, escaped trouble after allowing a pair of runners on, taking a 2-0 victory and advancing to the KCAC Conference Tournament Championship on Friday.

UP NEXT

Evangel Softball takes on #1 Friends on Friday (May 2) morning at 11:00 AM to determine a conference tournament champion. In order for Friends to earn the championship, they will need to take a pair of consecutive wins over EU, while the Valor need just one on Friday.

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.