Late York Rally Ruins Avila’s Chances of Victory in Series Opener

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Avila baseball took a big lead into the ninth inning in the first game of their three-game midweek series against York on Tuesday afternoon at The Z, but the Panthers (10-16, 2-11 KCAC) pieced together a massive rally in that ninth inning to shock the Eagles (13-15, 9-7 KCAC) in a 14-11 victory.

It was an absolute back-and-forth slugfest type of fame from the very beginning, starting with both teams scoring in the first inning and ending with one massive final push from the Panthers in the top of the ninth. York took the lead on three different occasions over the first three innings but Avila erased that lead every time, ultimately grabbing the lead themselves for the first time with a four-run fifth. That kickstarted a hot finish to the game for the Eagles, who scored nine runs between the fifth and eighth innings to take a six-run lead going into the ninth.

With how well Alex Walton had been pitching and the York offense looking silent compared to earlier in the game, the result looked all but assured. But as Avila head coach Matt Carpenter quite correctly pointed out on Eye on the Eagles on Monday morning, a six-run lead in this conference is not large enough to feel safe – and that's exactly the lead the Panthers erased in the ninth inning to earn a stunning win.

Dino Morales continued his excellent start to the campaign with a two-run home run in the fifth which gave York its third lead of the game, 4-2. But Avila erased that lead and then soared in front for the first time thanks to a three-run home run from Zach Dillman in the fifth and then a two-run single from Gio Armas in the sixth.

Morales pulled one back for the Panthers with a solo shot in the eighth, the only blemish on Walton over his first three innings of relief, but the Eagles retaliated with three in the home half when Landon Vahle scored on an error on a botched pickoff and Ricky Dober demolished a two-run homer.

That gave the Eagles an 11-5 lead, the largest for either team in the game. Walton returned for the ninth, and York steadily blasted its way back into the game – and back into the lead. Three different Panthers left the park in the ninth inning alone: Cesar Galvan hit a three-run homer to tie the game, and, shortly after, Ian Heck followed with his own three-run homer to somehow put the Panthers in front by three in the top of the ninth.

York erased a six-run deficit by scoring nine runs on eight hits in the ninth. But the Eagles, who were shocked but not stunned, rallied themselves for one final response. Paxton Andrade and Bryce Culp walked and Vahle was hit by a pitch, loading the bases as the tying runs with two outs, but closer James Mockry got Armas to pop out to avoid damage and shore up a crazy 14-11 comeback win for York.

The Panthers' top three hitters all recorded three hits in the game – Morales went 3-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored. Armas went 4-for-6 with three RBI and three runs scored, while Dillman went 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored as he extends his recent hot streak.

These two teams will conclude this new-look KCAC midweek series next Tuesday, March 26, in Nebraska. Up first, however, Avila baseball must shake this result off and head right back to the field at The Z this Friday and Saturday for a KCAC series against (RV) Friends. Action begins with a single game at 2 PM on Friday followed by a doubleheader on Saturday starting at noon; as always, you can watch all the action live and for free on the Avila Sports Network.