The Basics
Game 1 (13 inn.): Evangel 5, Missouri Valley 6 | Box Score
Game 2: Evangel 8, Missouri Valley 5 | Box Score
Record: Evangel (17-21, 8-14), Missouri Valley (13-24, 6-16)
Location: Marshall, Mo. (Lyon Bowl)
MARSHALL, Mo. – Valor Baseball hit the road to kick off their penultimate weekend road doubleheader at Missouri Valley on Friday. In game one, a victor was decided in nearly four hours as Missouri Valley claimed the win in the 13th inning. Game two featured enough Valor offense to grab a victory, 8-5, thanks to clutch hitting in the late innings of the game.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Missouri Valley used a three run home run to force extras in game one and the Vikings scored the game winning run in the 13th after both teams struggled to score in extra innings.
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In game two, Evangel used a big sixth inning to grab a lead that was secured by dominant relief pitching from Jed Montgomery, Sam Tiller, and Dylan Blehm.
HOW IT HAPPENED
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In game one, Evangel came out quickly on offense, scoring three runs to grab an early 3-0 lead. Mason Hansen walked and advanced to third on an Athanie Leeviraphan double. Noah Suiter promptly cleared the bases by doubling to score both Leeviraphan and Hansen. Dalton Cook proceeded to single, scoring Suiter and finishing the scoring for EU in the first inning.
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Levi Loughridge pitched well throughout game one, shutting down the Viking offense as he only allowed a single hit through six innings. In the final inning, Missouri Valley found their offense, using a walk and a single to get two runners on.
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With two outs and two runners on, Missouri Valley hit a three run home run to even the score at three runs apiece.
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Neither team could generate enough offense to score a run in extra innings until Evangel came up to bat in the 10th inning. Hansen and Leeviraphan both singled to begin the inning, and Suiter singled to score Hansen, giving Evangel a 4-3 lead in extras.
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Eli Cook recorded his first RBI of the season when he grounded out to score Leeviraphan in the tenth, giving the Valor a 5-3 lead.
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Missouri Valley tallied two consecutive sacrifice flies to even the score and force additional extra innings.
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The Vikings finally claimed the victory in the 13th inning when they singled to score the game winning run, 6-5.
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Missouri Valley kicked off game two by scoring on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded, giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead.
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Evangel used a big third inning on offense to grab a lead. Both Gage Harris and Hansen walked, giving Leeviraphan an RBI when he singled to left field. Hansen proceeded to score on a passed ball immediately after the single, and Leeviraphan scored on a Suiter sacrifice fly, giving EU a 3-1 lead.
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The Vikings took the lead in the fourth inning after the Valor struggled to record an out. After several walks and hits given up, Missouri Valley held a 4-3 lead.
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EU tied the game up in the fifth inning after Suiter scored Leeviraphan, but the Vikings quickly retook the lead in their half of the inning, keeping a one run margin between themselves and the Valor, 5-4.
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The Valor scored four runs in the top of the sixth to grab a 8-5 lead over the Vikings. Nathan Weatherly singled to kick off the inning and E. Cook ran for Weatherly. Eli came around to score after Kale Hynes and Parker Dinwiddie singled, as well as a Viking error that scored Cook and Hynes. Dinwiddie scored on a Harris sacrifice fly and the final run of the inning was scored when Jeremy Vickers scored on a Missouri Valley error.
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Blehm closed the door on the Vikings in the bottom of the seventh, recording a save and giving the Valor a split on the day.
NOTABLE
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Game one was Evangel's longest baseball game since April 17th, 2015, when they defeated Central Methodist in a 13 inning matchup.
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Suiter played well on Friday, going 3-8 and recorded five RBIs.
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Leeviraphan went 5-10 and scored four times on Friday.
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Blehm recorded his second save of the season as Tiller recorded his second win on the mound this season.
UP NEXT
Evangel will continue their weekend doubleheader with Missouri Valley on Saturday (Apr. 16), beginning at 1:00 p.m.
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.
