Leavenworth, Kan.—
 
Game One:

Evangel broke open a close game with a four-run eighth inning and went on to defeat the Spires 12-2 on day two of the Senior Weekend series Saturday at USM Baseball Field in Leavenworth, Kansas. The final nail came after the Valor had already built a 6-1 lead, with Perry delivering a two-run single in the eighth to push the margin to 10-1.

USM stayed within reach early before Evangel's lineup steadily added on. Edwards gave Evangel the first breakthrough with a two-run home run in the third inning. The visitors added two more runs in the fourth on RBI singles from Reilly and Nunes, then stretched the lead to 6-0 in the fifth when Reilly singled in a run and Perry later scored on a caught-stealing throw.

The Spires got on the board in the bottom of the fifth, but could not slow the Valor production over the final two innings. Perry's two-run single highlighted the four-run eighth, and Evangel added two more runs in the ninth. Jno-Baptiste hit a solo home run in the inning, and Perry later forced in another run after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Evangel finished with 17 hits, 11 RBIs and two home runs, while Saint Mary collected 10 hits. Edwards went 3 for 5 with two runs and two RBIs, Jno-Baptiste was 3 for 5 with two runs, a double and a home run, and Perry drove in three runs while reaching base five times on two hits, two walks and a hit by pitch. Reilly added two hits, three RBIs, two stolen bases and a sacrifice fly.

On the mound, Fuller gave Evangel six innings and allowed one run on eight hits while striking out six over 97 pitches. Saint Mary drew four walks and put runners on throughout the afternoon, leaving 12 on base, but did not string together enough timely hits to change the game.

The Spires' final highlight came in the bottom of the ninth, when Tannen Buss hit a solo home run for Saint Mary's second run of the day. It was the home side's lone extra-base scoring swing in a game controlled by Evangel after the third inning.

Game Two:

The Spires erased a two-run deficit in game two to take the series 5-4 with John Caime's RBI double in the sixth inning standing as the final swing needed for his team.

The Spires struck first and built a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Caime was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in the game's first run, and Daxton Macias followed by drawing another bases-loaded walk to bring home a second run. USM kept pressure on Evangel throughout the afternoon, finishing with eight hits, six walks and two hit batters.

The Valor answered in the top of the fourth with its only big inning. Strasser lined a two-run single to left field, and Jno-Baptiste followed with a two-run double as the visitors turned a two-run deficit into a 4-2 lead. That surge accounted for all four EU's runs and two of its three hits.

The Spires responded immediately. Jaxon Sloan opened the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run to left, cutting the deficit to 4-3. In the fifth, the Spires pulled even when Maverick Rockers reached on a shortstop error that allowed Tim Wood to score the tying run. An inning later, Cooper Stein came around on Caime's double to right field, pushing Saint Mary back in front at 5-4.

From there, Saint Mary's pitching staff closed the door. After allowing four runs in the fourth, the Spires held Evangel scoreless over the final three innings and did not commit an error behind the staff. Saint Mary limited Evangel to three hits in the game, while EU committed two errors.

Sloan finished 2 for 4 with a home run, an RBI and a run scored, Rockers went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI, and Caime drove in two runs. Evangel was led by Strasser and Jno-Baptiste, who each produced two RBIs during the fourth-inning rally, but USM's steady offensive pressure and late execution proved enough to secure the one-run win.

The Spires will stay home this week and host the Avila University Eagles for the final game of the series with AU. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14^th at USM Baseball Field.