SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The 25th ranked Evangel Softball program opens their 2026 campaign on Friday and Saturday (Feb. 6/7) afternoon, competing in the Branson Bash at the Branson RecPlex.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Friday as EU takes on Olivet Nazarene and UHSP, followed by a 12:30 p.m. start on Saturday against Crowley's Ridge and Stephens.

SERIES HISTORY

Evangel leads the all-time series with UHSP (2-0), Crowley's Ridge (3-0), and Stephens (9-0), and is tied all-time against Olivet Nazarene (1-1).

OPENING STORYLINES

• Head Coach Jay Halbrook returns after a historic season for Evangel, where EU went 42-12 and made their deepest postseason run as coach of the Valor.

• Evangel returns Kenna Mayfield (.427 avg), Camryn Casey (.346 avg), Danielle Cutbirth (.331 avg), and Lauren Dill (32 starts at first base) for their final seasons.

• Returning to pitch for the Valor is consensus All-American Maddy Meierer, who finished last year with a 0.88 ERA and 198 strikeouts over 182 innings pitched.

• Madi Bentley (3.15 ERA), Bodie Smith (2.25 ERA), and Sarah Wilkinson (3.78 ERA) all return from last year's NAIA National Tournament team.

LOOKING AHEAD

Evangel Softball takes part in the KC NAIA Softball Invite next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 13/14), taking on Columbia, Doane, Park, and Cottey in Kansas City.

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.