BASEBALL PICKS UP FIFTH-STRAIGHT WIN, SPLITS AT SOUTHWESTERN

WINFIELD, Kan. – Using more strong starting pitching and timely offense, Avila baseball stretched its winning streak to five games and split with Southwestern on Friday, winning the opener, 13-1 before losing the second, 6-4.

In the opening game, Avila's bats could not have gotten off to a better start.

The first three Eagles batters of the game reached base and Avila scored five runs off a run-scoring double play, two wild pitches, and a two-run error.

Avila added a three more in the top of the second inning on RBIs from Caden Stillwell, Joey Reichmuth and Vinny Neilson. Stillwell and Reichmuth would add two more RBI in the third inning to give the Eagles a 10-0 lead after three.

The top of the fifth inning saw another pair of Eagle runs, as Dylan Atherton scored Reichmuth on an RBI double. Atherton would later come around to score on a wild pitch.

The final run of Avila's day came in the sixth inning on an RBI single from Tommy English.

Just like Thursday night, it was another dominant pitching performance from the Avila starter as Antonio Villalobos IV pitched six innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out five Moundbuilder batters.

The Eagles went into the second game looking for their first six-game winning streak since 2023.

Three unearned runs and four errors didn't get the job done for the Eagles, as Avila fell in game two, 6-4.

A pitchers' dual for the first three innings, Avila got on the board first in the top of the fourth with an Atherton sac fly.

The Moundbuilders immediately responded, with three runs in the bottom of the inning.

In the top of the sixth, looking to take the lead, Isaiah Ramos belted a two-RBI double and two batters later, JJ Dain brought Ramos around to score on an RBI knock. After the top half of the sixth, Avila held a 4-3 lead.

Southwestern's bats came alive in the bottom half. An error and a walk put two runners on and the Moundbuilders brought both runners in on an RBI triple to take the lead.

They would add an insurance run two batters later to finalize the 6-4 scoreline.

Despite ending with a loss, Avila still won the series with Southwestern and come back to Kansas City victorious in both of its series this season. 

The Eagles won five of their first seven games for the first time since 2018 and open the home portion of their season on Wednesday against Kansas Christian. First pitch from The Z is slated for 2 PM.

(photo credit: Rhett Rogers)