GEM FROM AIDAN JOHNSON SURGES BASEBALL TO WIN OVER SAINT MARY

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – One of the best pitching performances of the 2026 Avila baseball season came from Aidan Johnson on Wednesday afternoon at The Z, as he helped the Eagles take down Saint Mary, 3-2.

Johnson threw 7.2 innings, allowing just two earned runs, striking out seven Spire batters and allowed just seven batters to reach base.

The lone blemish on Johnson's line came from a bizarre play in the first inning. With two men in scoring position, Saint Mary's cleanup hitter sent a deep fly ball to center field on a windy day in south Kansas City. Avila centerfielder JJ Stubblefield laid out for the catch and fell to the ground. The Spires used Stubblefield's time on the ground to score both runs on the sac fly.

From there, Johnson would not allow another USM runner to cross the plate.

Avila tied the game in the bottom of the second on a huge two-run blast from Aaron Mcleod-Smith. It was the senior first basemen's second longball of the season.

After the second inning, Johnson would not allow more than one baserunner in any of his remaining six innings on the bump.

Deadlocked in the top of the seventh, leadoff hitter Tommy English put Avila ahead for good on a solo home run to left field, his team-leading seventh of the season.

After Johnson left with two outs in the eighth inning, USM loaded the bases before Corbin Hamman came on as Avila's second reliever of the inning and got the Spire pinch-hitter to strike out on four pitches.

A 1-2-3 inning from Hamman in the ninth gave Avila a 3-2 victory, Johnson the win and Hamman the save.

It was just the third time this year in which Avila has allowed two or fewer runs as the Eagles have now won two of their last three games. 

Avila is back at The Z on Saturday to begin a three-game series with Bethany. First pitch of game on is slated for 12 PM.

 (photo credit: Ali Nassir)