MISSED OPPORTUNITIES DOOM BASEBALL IN LOSS TO EVANGEL

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Avila baseball left eight runners stranded and committed three errors, but still had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth in a 6-5 loss to Evangel on Tuesday afternoon.

The Valor put up a run in each of the first two innings, but Avila answered back immediately.

In the bottom half of the second, the first four batters reached and Avila got a pair of runs back on an RBI single from Rusten Traxler and a sac fly Aiden Johnson.

Evangel took control of the lead and would not give it back beginning in the fourth inning with a two-out solo home run.

Evangel's Evan Jno-Baptiste added a two-run homer in the sixth inning – his second of the day – but once again, Avila would fight back in the bottom half.

Tommy English opened the inning with a leadoff single and Caden Stillwell brought him in with a two-run bomb to left-center. After six innings, Avila trailed 5-4.

The Valor put up another run in the seventh and the two teams would remain scoreless for the next inning-plus.

With two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the ninth, English hit a home run over the left-field field to bring the Eagles to within one, but Avila could not bring that extra run across and fell to Evangel, 6-5.

Avila got 3.1 solid innings out of the bullpen from freshman Bryce Bushelle, allowing just one run while stranding six total runners on base.

English led the Avila offense, reaching base five times and scoring a pair of runs. Dylan Atherton and Isaiah Ramos were the other two Eagles with multiple hits in the contest. 

Avila hits the road this weekend for three games at McPherson on Saturday and Sunday. First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is slated for 12 PM.  

 (photo credit: Rhett Rogers)