The Basics
Game 1: Evangel 16, McPherson 6 (7 inn.) | Box Score
Game 2: Evangel 8, McPherson 3 | Box Score
Record: Evangel (22-21, 16-15), McPherson (21-22, 18-14)
Location: Springfield, Mo. (University Field)
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Evangel Baseball returned home on Friday (Apr. 17) afternoon to open a three game series with the McPherson College Bulldogs.
Needing a pair of wins to help stay ahead in the conference tournament race, the Valor used dominant efforts to take a pair of wins over the Bulldogs, 16-6 in a seven inning run-rule and 8-3 in a strong effort from starting pitcher Isaac Daley.
HOW IT HAPPENED
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Evangel and McPherson both had a scoreless first inning, but the Bulldogs would jump out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the second.
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Justus Cherrico singled and scored on a Gannon Miller sacrifice fly to open scoring for EU in the bottom of the second, 4-1.
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The Valor scored five runs in the bottom of the third, as Evan Jno-Baptiste singled and scored on a Mason Reilly home run, followed by base hits from Cade Beshore, Quentin Edwards, and Cherrico, scoring Beshore. Another Miller sacrifice fly scored Edwards, while a Drew Dobberstein single scored Cherrico, giving EU a 6-4 lead.
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McPherson responded by scoring a run in the fourth, but Evangel countered in the fifth as Cherrico hit a bomb to left field, making it a 7-5 ballgame.
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In the bottom of the sixth, the Valor plated six runs, the majority of which came off pitching struggles from the Bulldogs. Miller was able to rip a double to score a pair of runners in the inning, as EU led, 13-5.
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The Bulldogs added a run in the top of the seventh, but the Valor earned the run-rule win in game one in the bottom of the seventh, scoring a trio of runs, as Reilly singled, Beshore walked, and Edwards was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Cherrico hit a single to score Reilly and Beshore, while a Heath Perry sacrifice fly scored Cayden Moody, who was running for Edwards, solidifying the 16-6 win.
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Evangel took an early lead in the bottom of the second of game two, as H. Perry singled, D. Dobberstein walked, and Nate Nunes was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A fielders choice allowed Perry to score, while Reilly hit another home run, extending the EU lead to 4-0.
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McPherson scored their first run of the contest in the top of the third.
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In the bottom of the fourth, D. Dobberstein doubled, scoring on a Reilly single to make it a 5-1 game.
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Evangel closed their scoring in the bottom of the fifth, as Cherrico and H. Perry singled, followed by D. Dobberstein being hit by a pitch. A balk allowed Moody to score, who was running for Cherrico. A Nunes triple cleared the bases, giving EU a 8-1 lead.
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McPherson added a pair in the top of the seventh, but the damage had been done as the Valor swept Friday's games, 8-3.
NOTABLE
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Tanner Midyett earned his second win of the season in game one, while Isaac Daley recorded his fourth win of the year in Friday's final matchup.
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Justus Cherrico had a strong first game, going 4-4 from the plate with four runs and four RBIs.
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Mason Reilly proved to be a catalyst for the EU offense, going 4-8 from the plate with four runs and six RBIs on Friday.
NEXT UP
Evangel Baseball concludes their series with McPherson on Saturday (Apr. 18) afternoon with a nine-inning matchup set for noon in Springfield.
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. Â