The Basics

Score: Evangel 18, Sterling 17 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (18-17, 12-11), Sterling (17-19, 11-12)

Location: Springfield, Mo. (University Field)

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Evangel Baseball returned home on Thursday (Apr. 2) afternoon, opening a three game series with the Sterling College Warriors in Springfield.

With both teams deadlocked at 11-11 in the conference, Thursday's game would give the winner the advantage going into Friday's contest. After trailing 7-0 after the top of the second inning, the Valor had to rally twice, using a three-run ninth inning to ultimately take a walk-off 18-17 win over the Warriors at home.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Sterling scored seven runs over the first two innings of play to lead EU 7-0.

• Evangel added their first run of the game in the bottom of the second, as Dylan Michaelson walked and scored on a Heath Perry double.

• In the bottom of the third, Cade Beshore walked, followed by a Justus Cherrico single, with both scoring on a Michaelson double to make it a 7-3 contest.

• Kannon Perry worked a walk to open the bottom of the fourth inning and TJ Newman entered as a courtesy runner for the catcher. A Evan Jno-Baptiste double scored Newman, while Nate Nunes singled to score Baptiste, drawing within two runs of Sterling's lead, 7-5.

• The Warriors added three runs in the top of the fifth to re-extend their lead to five runs, 10-5.

• EU matched Sterling's runs with three of their own in the bottom of the sixth, as Newman, Baptiste, and Nunes all scored in the inning after several walks and hit batters.

• Sterling added a run in the top of the seventh, but Evangel plated seven runs to capture a 15-11 lead. Heath Perry doubled and scored on a wild pitch, followed by a Kai Strasser walk and error that allowed Baptiste to get on base. Nunes was hit by a pitch to load the bases and a Beshore single scored Strasser and Baptiste. After Quentin Edwards worked a walk, Cherrico singled to score Beshore and Nunes. A Michaelson base hit scored Edwards and a K. Perry ground out scored Cherrico to give EU the four run lead.

• The Warriors did not go down quietly, scoring six runs to retake the lead, heading into the bottom of the ninth, 17-15.

• After Michaelson singled to get on with one out in the ninth, H. Perry came up to bat. On the first pitch, Perry ripped the ball to deep left field, clearing the fence for a game-tying two run homer, making the score 17-17. After K. Perry was hit by a pitch on the following at-bat, Cayden Moody entered to run and a pair of wild pitches put the freshman at third with just one out. Enter Baptiste to the plate and a bunt would score Moody as the pitchers attempt to get the out at home came up just late, resulting in a walk-off 18-17 win for Evangel.

NOTABLE

• Dylan Michaelson batted .750 in Thursday's contest, recording three RBIs and a pair of runs. Cade Beshore led EU with four RBIs in the win.

• Heath Perry hit a two-run home run to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, while Evan Jno-Baptiste hit a walk-off bunt.

• Tanner Midyett earned the win on Thursday after pitching 1.1 innings to close the game.

NEXT UP

Evangel Baseball concludes their series with the Sterling College Warriors on Friday (Apr. 3) morning beginning at 11:00 a.m., 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.