OZARK, Mo. — The trip down to Missouri was a productive one for the Bulldogs as they put the finishing touches on a series sweep of the Evangel University Valor on Monday (Feb. 24) as they secured a 6-4 victory to move to 5-1 in KCAC play.
Unlike the first two games of the series that saw Evangel getting off to a hot start, it was the Bulldogs who threw the first punch. A fielder's choice got MC on the board first as
Jace Essig crossed home plate in the top of the first inning to make it a 1-0 lead for MC. The next trio of runs came in a much louder way as
Luke Nordean continued his hot streak and launched a three run homerun to make it 4-0 before the Valor bats even got a shot in the game.
Evangel, now in the position the Bulldogs spent the first two games in, came right back and began to claw back into the contest. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, the Valor were able to push across a run thanks to a batter getting hit by a pitch. The roll continued for the home team in the bottom of the third and a pair of RBI doubles and an RBI single brought the score even at four runs each. Pitching cranked up from the third inning on as neither the Bulldogs nor the Valor could recapture the momentum.
The lack of offense for Evangel can be credited to
Matthew Vigil. Coming in relief of starting pitcher
Jameson Caro, Vigil pitched three strong innings and only surrendered two hits and struck out three batters. The offense for MC finally was able to get the lead back as a
Peyton Starr single and a hit batter with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh gave MC a 6-4 lead.
Francisco Paradis and
Nick Thompson pitched the final two frames and completely shut down the Evangel bats as neither surrendered a hit and the Bulldogs secured their third straight victory and their first three game sweep of the year.
The Bulldogs head to Leavenworth to start a three game series against the University of Saint Mary Spires with the first two games being played on Saturday, March 1. First pitch for game one of the double header is set for 1:00 p.m.
