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Baseball Opens HAAC Schedule Friday

March 6, 2009
Contact: Evangel University Athletics 865-2815, Ext. 7282

Evangel Crusaders (8-7, 0-0) vs. Baker Wildcats (3-4-1, 0-0)
1pm – doubleheader / Saturday, 1pm - doubleheader

Games # 16-20

Probable Starters

Friday: RHP Rafael Frias (0-2, 7.79 ERA)
& LHP Chad Correa (1-2, 7.43 ERA)
Saturday: LHP Chad Culpepper (3-0, 4.38 ERA)
& RHP Andy Pfeifer (1-0, 2.70 ERA)

HAAC Opener

Evangel opens a four-game series Friday against Baker to open their 40-game conference schedule. It will be the first conference games for both teams. Baker is coming off of a non-conference split of a doubleheader against Kansas Wesleyan on Tuesday. The Wildcats feature last season’s HAAC Pitcher of the Year in LHP Vidal Nuno who posted a 1.33 ERA last year.

Friday’s Starters

Rafael Frias will start for the Crusaders on Friday…He will make his fourth start and fifth appearance…Made a relief appearance Tuesday against Madonna (Mich.): ND, 2 inn, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO…Threw complete game in his last start, Feb. 28 vs. Davenport (Mich.) allowing just 2 runs but received a loss in a 2-0 defeat…Senior from Orlando, Florida.

Chad Correa will also make a start Friday…Last appearance was in relief Tuesday against Madonna (Mich.): 1 inn, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO…Got a win in his last start on Feb. 28 against Point Park (Pa.): 5/6/1/1/2/6 in a 4-1 win…A native of Loveland, Col., he transferred from Colby C.C. in his junior season.

Saturday’s Starters

Chad Culpepper will start for the Crusaders on Saturday and will make his sixth appearance and fifth start…Appeared in relief on Tuesday against Madonna (Mich.): 3.2 inn, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO…Struck out a season high 11 over six innings in a start on Feb. 28 against Cedarville (OH)…Evangel has won in each of his four starts…A sophomore from Harrisonville, Mo.

Andy Pfeifer will also make a start Saturday…Started Monday against Concordia (Mich.): ND, 6 inn, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO in a 6-5 loss…It was his first start after two relief appearances…Has struck out 13 in just 10 innings…His win came in a relief appearance on Feb. 10 against College of the Ozarks when he worked 3 innings allowing 1 run on 1 hit…A sophomore from Springfield-Hillcrest.

Best Bats

OF Eric Osner leads the team in hitting with a .471 average going 8 for 17 at the plate in a part-time role…Osner has a 6-game hitting streak going and is batting .529 during the streak…INF Phil Reed is hitting .440 over his last eight games going 11 for 25…He had four doubles in the two games against Ottawa on Feb. 25…OF Zach Johnson has hits in 12 of his last 14 games and has 15 RBI’s in his last 11 games.

Crusaders At a Glance

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