Avila Scores in Double Digits Twice in Series Victory over Evangel

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – In a series defined by big, timely offense, Avila baseball (13-11, 9-3 KCAC) scored double-digit runs in the first two games of the series to clinch their third KCAC series victory of the year before Evangel rallied to score double-digits runs in their own right in game three, avoiding a series sweep over the weekend in Springfield.

The two former HAAC foes matched up on the diamond for the first time as KCAC opponents this weekend in a series that was shifted a couple of times due to weather. Rain forced the teams into a single game on Saturday and a doubleheader on Sunday, but neither team's offense was dampened by that: the losing team scored exactly eight runs in all three games, and Avila scored 12 runs in game one to win their 12^th game of the season on Saturday before one-upping themselves by scoring 13 runs to earn win number 13 on the year on Sunday.

Once the series finally began on Saturday afternoon, both teams came out swinging. Avila struck immediately when Gio Armas drove in Landon Vahle in the first inning, but Evangel countered by scoring the next six runs, highlighted by a three-run home run from Eli Cook in the bottom of the first. Avila pulled two runs back on a two-run double from JJ Stubblefield in the sixth, but Evangel got those two runs right back in the home half on a two-run triple from Riley Mitchell.

That put the Valor in front 8-3. The Eagles didn't have much success against Valor starter Wyatt Keplar, but once Avila got Evangel into the bullpen the Eagles immediately flashed their comeback mettle that they have delivered so often so far this season. Cooper Wilken got Evangel through the sixth, but he came back out for the seventh and the Eagles put the pressure on him immediately: Avila scored six runs on five hits in the seventh inning against three different Evangel pitchers, featuring RBI doubles from Paxton Andrade and Landon Vahle.

With the comeback completed and the visitors now in front 9-8, Avila made sure to add on some insurance. A walk, single and hit by pitch loaded the bases with only one out, and Stubblefield delivered a single up the middle to plate two before Rusten Traxler scored on a wild pitch to make it 12-8. Konnor Thompson got four outs in relief to earn the win in his best appearance of the year, and Armas, who started the game at catcher, got the final six outs to close out a win for the Eagles in the series opener.

Avila needed a massive late rally to win game one, but in game two the Eagles had to hold on for dear life to escape with a win. Avila scored in four of the first five innings to build up a massive early edge: Zach Dillman got the scoring started with an RBI single in the first, and Bryce Culp, Gio Armas and Ricky Dober all drove in multiple runs over the next few frames to help the Eagles vault in front 11-0 in the top of the fifth.

Logan Empson was strong through four for the Eagles before Evangel finally got to him for four runs – only two of which were earned – in the fifth inning to end his day. Armando Arguello got the Eagles through the fifth, and Corbin Hamman fired two scoreless in relief, and Paxton Andrade added some critical insurance with a two-run knock in the seventh.

That put the Eagles up 13-4, and Avila was very close to ending the game early on more than one occasion. Instead, however, Evangel certainly made things interesting, scoring two runs in the eighth and the ninth before Austin Rodgers entered to put on the fire and finally shore up a 13-8 victory for the Eagles, which wrapped up their third KCAC series win of the year.

A five-run second inning put the Eagles on the precipice of their third KCAC series sweep of the year, but the Valor countered with two five-run frames of their own to flip the script and eke out a win. Avila started hot with a bases-clearing double from Armas followed immediately by a two-run dinger from Dober, giving Avila an immediate 6-1 edge in the 7-inning contest.

Evangel was able to mount a rally in the fourth inning, even with Alex Walton on the hill for the Eagles, and the Valor ultimately evened the score at 6-6. Avila moved right back in front thanks to two unearned runs in the fifth, but the misfortune of errors fell the other way in the late innings: Evangel put up another five-run frame in the sixth but none of the five runs was earned – still, that was enough for the Valor to rally for an 11-8 win, avoiding the series sweep.

Stubblefield led the Eagles with a total of seven hits and a .500 average on the weekend. Armas drove in a total of eight runs, and Vahle scored seven.

Up next, Avila will face its toughest test of the 2024 season to date: the KCAC's other Eagle team is on deck when Avila travels to Oklahoma Wesleyan for a three-game series which includes one game on Friday and two on Saturday. As always, you can watch all the action live and for free on the KCAC Network.