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Baseball vs. Lindenwood, Game 1 - HAAC Tournament

April 30, 2009
Contact: Evangel University Athletics 865-2815, Ext. 7282

(6) Evangel Crusaders (26-29, 18-22) vs. #20 (1) Lindenwood Lions (39-10, 32-8)
Noon – Estes Field - Fayette, Mo.

Heart of America Conference Tournament

Game one starter

RHP Craig Penley (5-3, 4.34 ERA)

Crusaders vs. Lindenwood in Game 1 Of HAAC Tournament

Evangel plays Lindenwood in the first round of the Heart of America conference tournament at Estes Field in Fayette, Missouri. The Crusaders are the sixth seed in the tournament and play first seeded and 20th ranked Lindenwood. The winner of the game advances to Game 5 of the tournament Saturday at 3 p.m. to play the loser of the Game Three between #3 Culver-Stockton and #4 Benedictine. The loser of the game falls to Game 4 of the tournament Saturday at noon and will play the loser of Game Two between #2 William Jewell and # 5 Avila.

Friday’s Starter

Craig Penley will start the first game for Evangel in the conference tournament…Penley took a loss in his last start on Apr. 22 against Benedictine: 6.2 inn, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO in a 3-2 loss to the Ravens…He is 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA in his last three starts…His 4.34 ERA marks the lowest it has been this season and currently ranked 7th best in the conference…Has struck out 54 while walking 23 in 58 innings…Penley is in his sophomore season from Plato, Missouri.

EU’s First Postseason Since 2000

Evangel is playing in their first postseason since the 2000 season when they made an appearance in the NAIA Region V Tournament. The Crusaders went 0-2 in that appearance. Evangel won their last postseason games in 1996 when they won the Heart of America conference championship.

Season Series vs. Lindenwood

Lindenwood leads the season series 4-0.
Apr. 24 at Evangel: Lind 9 Evan 2 (Lions with a 7-run 4th inn; Scott 3-3, R; Cunningham 2-3, 2 R, RBI)
Apr. 24 at Evangel: Lind 17 Evan 1 (Lions score 16 in 6th inn; Rodriguez 2-2, HR, 6 RBIs; EU walks 12 batters)
Apr. 25 at Evangel: Lind 11 Evan 6 (Lions rally with 6 runs in 6th; Harris 2-3, HR, 2 R, 3 RBIs)
Apr. 25 at Evangel: Line 19 Evan 4 (Newton 3-3, 2 R, 6 RBIs, 2 2B; Lowery 2-3, 4 R, RBI)

Evangel vs. Other Tourney Opponents

Evangel is 6-14 against HAAC tournament teams. Their record against other teams in the tournament in addition to Lindenwood: William Jewell (1-3), Culver-Stockton (1-3), Benedictine (2-2), Avila (2-2).

Farmer Sees Average Grow

SS Zach Farmer ended the regular season leading the team in hitting with a .368 average. He is hitting .500 in his last 12 games going 16 for 32 at the plate during that span. Farmer had a 4 for 4 game on Apr. 21 against Benedictine and went 4 for 8 in the Lindenwood series last weekend. Farmer ranks 10th in the league hitting, 8th in RBIs (with 44), and 4th in triples (4).

Johnson Leads HAAC In RBIs

DH Zach Johnson leads the conference in RBIs with 49 and has surged with 14 RBIs in his last 12 games. Johnson enters the tournament with a four-game hitting streak and is batting .452 (14 for 31) in his last dozen games.

Crusaders At a Glance

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