Game One: Stars 6, Valor 7
Stephens fell 7-6 to Evangel on Thursday in a tightly contested game that was decided in the final inning. The score was tied at six entering the seventh before Evangel pushed across the go-ahead run to hand the Stars the narrow loss.
Stephens matched Evangel early after the visitors opened the scoring in the first inning. Katie Dennis singled to center field on an 0-2 count to bring home a run and tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first.
The Stars moved in front in the third inning, taking advantage of a defensive miscue that allowed two runs to score and gave Stephens a 3-1 lead.
Evangel answered with a big fourth inning to take a 5-3 lead, but Stephens responded again in the fifth. Addison Flores delivered a single that drove in two runs to tie the game, and Morgan Ulrich followed with a double to bring home another run and give the Stars a 6-5 advantage.
Evangel evened the score in the sixth inning before adding the decisive run in the seventh.
Dennis took the loss in the circle for Stephens, pitching all seven innings. She allowed seven runs, four earned, on nine hits while striking out six and walking three.
At the plate, Flores led the middle of the lineup with two RBIs, finishing 1-for-3. Elise Kendrick paced the Stars with three hits, going 3-for-4. Stephens also showed patience at the plate with four walks.
Defensively, the Stars were solid throughout the game and did not commit an error. Landry Bales led the team with four defensive chances.
Game Two: Stars 1, Wildcats 3
Stephens dropped a close 3-1 contest on Thursday despite a strong effort in the circle from Kendrick, who went the distance for the Stars. The right-hander recorded all 18 outs for Stephens, allowing four hits and two runs—both unearned—over six innings while walking two.
After falling behind early, Stephens responded in the top of the second inning. Schmidt delivered a single down the right field line to bring in a run and even the score at 1-1.
The Stars finished the game with three hits. Vincent, Flores, and Schmidt each recorded one, with Schmidt going 1-for-2 at the plate and leading the team with the lone RBI.
Defensively, Stephens limited opportunities and kept the game within reach behind Kendrick's steady outing in the circle.
Stephens will return to the field on Friday to play Graceland University and Briar Cliff University.
