STILLWELL’S WALK OFF GIVES BASEBALL SERIES WIN OVER BETHANY

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In one of the quickest nine-inning games of the season, Avila baseball used a gem on the mound from Cashen Schranz and a walk-off knock in the bottom of the ninth from Caden Stillwell to take down Bethany, 3-2 and take the series over their KCAC rivals.

Schranz pitched one of the best games of his career, throwing a nine-inning complete game, allowing just two runs and striking out nine Bethany batters.

It was Schranz's first complete game of his career and his nine strikeouts were his second-highest total of the season.

For the first eight innings, Schranz did not allow more than one base runner in any one inning.

With both teams scoreless late, the eighth inning is where the Eagles first crossed home plate.

A single and stolen base from Tommy English put Avila in scoring position. Isaiah Ramos got English to third on a fly out prior to a walk from Caden Stillwell. Joey Reichmuth came through with an RBI infield single to score English and put Emmanuel Ealey on third.

After a pitching change, Dylan Atherton sent a ball to left field to score Ealey and put the Eagles up 2-0 entering the ninth.

With two outs in the top of the ninth, Bethany tied the game with a two-run homer over the left field wall that clipped off English's glove as the captain attempted to make a leaping, game-saving grab.

Allowing his first runs of the game, Schranz did not let it to get out of hand and left the game tied, giving his offense the opportunity to win in the bottom half.

In the bottom of the ninth, Avila got two quick outs before English singled up the middle.

Ramos singled behind English to put two men on base for Stillwell.

Stillwell then brought English home with a base hit up the middle that sent his teammates pouring out of the dugout to celebrate the walk-off victory. 

Having won three of their last four games, Avila wraps up the non-conference portion of its schedule with a doubleheader against Missouri Valley on Tuesday at 1 PM from The Z.

 (photo credit: Shomari Finch)