February 13, 2008
Contact: Evangel University Athletics 865-2815, Ext. 7282
Once again, the Evangel softball team won’t be able to begin its season according to the 2008 schedule. The 14-team EU Lead Off Classic/Tournament on Feb. 15-16 has been cancelled due to the inclement weather for the second year in a row.
The Lady Crusaders will attempt to get their 2008 season started on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 22-23, when they host the 16-team EU Early Bird Tournament. The tournament will be held at Springfield’s Killian Softball Complex.
Under head coach Jerry Breaux, who begins his 15th year at the helm this season, the 2008 EU softball team will follow the Early Bird Tournament with the 18-team EU Show Me Tournament on Feb. 29-Mar. 1. The Show Me Tournament will also be played at Killian.
The Lady Crusaders then travel to Pensacola, Florida, on Mar. 3-7 for the University of Florida Spring Fling Games. When they return, the Lady Crusaders begin their 11-date Heart of America Athletic Conference schedule at MidAmerica Nazarene on Mar. 13 in Olathe, Kans. Evangel will also participate in Oklahoma City University’s Domino’s Invitational at the Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City on April 4-5 and in the Oklahoma City University Spring Festival at OCU’s Ann Lacy Stadium on April 11-12.
Springfield’s Meador Park will be the site of the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament on May 2-3 and the NAIA Region V Tournament on May 6-8.
The 2007 Evangel softball team won its eighth overall and fourth consecutive conference championship and advanced to the NAIA Region V Tournament for the seventh time. The 2007 Lady Crusaders finished with a 32-13-1 record and were ranked No. 18 on the final 2007 NAIA national poll.