Late Homer Lifts Builders Past Eagles in Series Opener

WINFIELD, Kan. – Deadlocked in a tight game for seven innings, Southwestern (6-27, 6-19 KCAC) was the first team to break that deadlock, getting a clutch three-run home run from centerfielder Luca Dincola in the eighth inning to pave the way for a 5-2 win over Avila (17-21, 13-13 KCAC) on Tuesday afternoon in Winfield.

Despite dropping all three games in a close series at (RV) Tabor over the weekend, the Eagles were able to scheme their pitching staff to give them the best chance of success against Southwestern. Alex Walton and Logan Empson combined to pitch eight innings in game two against Tabor on Friday, and both were ready to pitch in combination a few days later against the Builders.

Both experienced starters pitched well overall, and gave the Eagles a chance to win, but the Avila offense could not come through consistently against four Southwestern pitchers, who combined to allow two runs on six hits.

Avila struck first in the fourth inning by loading the bases with nobody out. Paxton Andrade hit into a double play, but Ricky Dober scored on the play to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Walton was excellent through four scoreless before Southwestern finally bled out the tying run on a bunt single from Cooper Reeves in the fifth.

SC took the lead against Empson in the sixth, but Avila immediately answered in the seventh, thanks to the top of the order. With two outs, Landon Vahle doubled and stole third ahead of a walk from Gio Armas, and Bryce Culp delivered a clutch two-out single to left to tie the game.

Top reliever Reyden Rull got the final out of the seventh and all three outs in the eighth, and Southwestern then came up clutch in the home half. The inning started with an Eagle error and then a single from Carlos Camacho, but Empson got two flyouts to nearly escape the inning – before Dincola drove a three-run homer to dead center to put the Moundbuilders on top. Mark Gil entered for the ninth and hit Vahle with yet another pitch, but otherwise sent the Eagles down in order to wrap up the 5-2 win for Southwestern in the series opener.

The two teams will conclude this midweek three-game series with a doubleheader starting at noon next Tuesday, April 16, at The Z in Kansas City. Up first, however, Avila baseball will travel back at west to Sterling for a three-game set against the Warriors this Friday and Saturday. The series features a single game Friday at 3 PM, and a doubleheader Saturday starting at noon. As always, you can watch all the action on the KCAC Network.