Joco Today

Braves Rally to Get the Split With Evangel

The Ottawa University softball team split with Evangel University on Monday night at Meador Park. The Braves fell in game one, 5-3, but bounced back to take a 12-10 victory in game two.

Game One

Evangel broke the 0-0 tie in the bottom of the second inning with two runs. The Braves cut into the deficit in the top of the fourth. Madison Bunfill led off with a single to left. She advanced to second on a wild pitch. Emma Melvin scored Bunfill with a single to left and OU with within 2-1.

In the bottom of the fifth, Evangel scored three runs, increasing its lead to 5-1. The Braves tried to rally. Ottawa scored one run in the top of the sixth and one in the top of the seventh but was not able to complete the comeback, falling 5-3.

Inside the Box Score

•    Katie Enneking went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the Braves.

•    Ashlynn Mercer pitched six innings, striking out two.

Game Two

Ottawa struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a home run by Katie Enneking. Evangel answered with four runs to take the lead in the bottom half of the first, 4-1.

The Braves cut into the deficit in the top of the third. Madison Bunfill singled to left, scoring Riley Newbold and OU was within, 4-2. The Valor answered that run with one of their own in the bottom of the third to take a 5-2 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, Evangel pushed three more runs cross home plate to increase its lead to 8-2. Ottawa responded with an offensive explosion in the top of the fifth. OU scored 10 runs, on six hits, against two Valor pitchers. Madison Bunfill hit a three run home run, giving OU a 12-8 lead.

Evangel tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs to get within 12-10. Ashlynn Mercer entered the game and after giving up a single, got the final out on a groundout to give OU the 12-10 victory.

Inside the Box Score

•    Madison Bunfill and Katie Enneking finished the game with three hits apiece. Bunfill led OU with four RBI and Enneking had three.

•    Loralei Gilbert pitched 6.1 innings in the win, striking out six.

Original source can be found here.