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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – After clinching the KCAC Regular Season and Conference Tournament Title, the Valor Softball program was selected as a #2-seed and travels to Winter Haven, Florida, to take part in the NAIA National Championship Opening Rounds, joining #1-seed and host, Southeastern, #3-seed Faulkner, and #4-seed Dillard.

Evangel will take on the Faulkner Eagles on Monday (May 11th) afternoon at 1:00 p.m. (CT), aiming to take a win and avoid dropping to elimination contests. Southeastern and Dillard will also compete on Monday, prior to the EU/FU contest, at 10:00 a.m. (CT) in Winter Haven.

SERIES HISTORY

The Valor have never matched up with Southeastern, Faulkner, or Dillard in their program history. Evangel carries a 20-24 record all-time in the national tournament and is looking to shake off a two game losing streak in first round contests (loss to St. Thomas in '25, loss to Hope International in '24).

OPENING EVANGEL STORYLINES

• Evangel enters the tournament with a 43-9 overall record, going 21-3 this season on a neutral field and 10-4 in road contests.

• The Valor are led offensively by senior Kenna Mayfield, who is batting a red-hot .486 on the season. Mayfield also leads Evangel in hits (85), triples (10, school record), and stolen bases (59). Kenna also leads the Winter Haven pod in batting average (tied), hits, and stolen bases.

• Naomi Perkins has been another offensive standout for Evangel, batting .399 this season with 65 hits (5th in pod), 41 RBIs, and 39 runs scored.

• Audrey Carlton (.338), Natalie Morgan (.323), and Lauren Dill (.321) round out batters who swing above .300 on the season, as Carlton leads the team and is fifth in the Winter Haven pod in RBIs (44) and tied for fourth in home runs (6).

• Taking a look at Evangel's pitching this season, junior Maddy Meierer continues to be a dominant arm for EU, currently with a 0.98 ERA, 24-3 record, and 177 strikeouts. Meierer leads the Winter Haven pod in wins and strikeouts.

• Madi Bentley has been reliable as well for Evangel in the circle and has historically shined bright in national tournament play for the Valor, after throwing 10 innings last season in elimination contests and allowing just eight hits and four walks.

• Evangel's defense has been steady all season, currently sitting with a .972 fielding percentage, tied for 12th in the nation, the best mark in the Winter Haven pod.

OPENING FAULKNER STORYLINES

• Faulkner enters the tournament with a 35-14 overall record, going 10-5 this season on a neutral field and 12-6 in road contests.

• The Eagles are led offensively by senior Chloe Davidson, who is batting .453 on the season, good for fourth in the Winter Haven pod. Davidson also leads Faulkner in hits (68, third in pod) and walks (18).

• Faulkner also has three other standouts batting over .400 this season, as Sarah Williams (.421), Abrianna Davis (.409), and Addyson Jarman (.404) all meet the mark. Jarman has served as Faulkner's power this season, hitting 16 doubles and 10 home runs, the second most in the pod. Jarman's 47 RBIs and Williams 46 RBIs rank third and fourth, respectively, in the pod.

• Taking a look at Faulkner's pitching this season, junior Reece Patterson leads the Eagles in ERA with a 1.49, throwing 103.1 innings and allowing opponents a .244 batting average.

• The Eagles have also thrown Addison Moseley (18 starts, 3.37 ERA), Abrianna Davis (3.83 ERA, 10 starts), and Lana Atkins (8 starts, 2.21 ERA) this season in the circle.

• Faulkner's defense currently ranks tied for 36th in the nation with a .965 fielding percentage and 52 errors on the season.

OPENING SOUTHEASTERN STORYLINES

• Southeastern enters the tournament with a 44-7 overall record, going 21-3 at home and 10-4 in neutral site contests.

• The Fire are led offensively by junior Raylei McKinney, who is batting .486 on the season, tied with Kenna Mayfield for tops in the pod. McKinney also leads the Fire in hits (71, 2nd in pod), doubles (18), home runs (13, 1st in pod), and RBIs (60, 1st in pod).

• Southeastern has one other athlete batting over .400 this season, as Ella Brooks bats .444 (5th in pod), has recorded 67 hits (4th in pod), and leads the Fire in walks with 18.

• Quite possibly the strongest #1 and #2 in the nation, the Southeastern Fire boast the nations lowest ERA (1.16) with Edan Playa and Maria Zelenka throwing most of the innings for SEU. Playa boasts a 0.92 ERA, which is tops in the pod, allowing opponents a .172 batting average while striking out 84 batters. Zelenka has a 1.13 ERA, which is third in the pod, striking out 145 batters (2nd in pod), and allowing opponents just a .190 batting average.

• The Fire have also thrown Emma Vickers this season, who has a strong 1.40 ERA over 65 innings pitched this season.

• Southeastern's defense currently ranks tied for 39th in the nation with a .964 fielding percentage and 46 errors on the season.

OPENING DILLARD STORYLINES

• Dillard enters the tournament with a 27-14 overall record, going 5-1 this season on a neutral field and 11-5 in road contests.

• The Bleu Devils are led offensively by junior Jessica Battiste, who is batting .467 on the season, good for third in the Winter Haven pod. Battiste also leads Dillard in hits (56), doubles (17), and RBIs (49, 2nd in pod).

• Dillard has five other athletes who boast batting averages over .300, as Sa'Vya Sutherland (.389), Haley Weatherspoon (.376), Ja'Lise Stewart (.374), Brooklyn Baltzell (.355), and Grace Hunter (.324) all hit the mark. Stewart leads the Bleu Devils in home runs with seven this season, which is third in the pod.

• Taking a look at Dillard's pitching this season, junior Mary-Elizabeth Landry leads the Bleu Devils in ERA with a 3.04, throwing 142.2 innings and striking out 135 batters this season.

• The Bleu Devils have also thrown Kylie Price in the circle this season, as the freshman has a 3.48 ERA over 110.2 innings pitched with 56 strikeouts.

• Dillard's defense currently ranks tied for 109th in the nation with a .950 fielding percentage and 50 errors on the season.

LOOKING AHEAD

With a win in the contest against Faulkner, the Valor will take on the winner of SEU/DU at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday (May 12) morning. With a loss, Evangel returns to action at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday (May 12) afternoon against the loser of the SEU/DU contest in an elimination 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.