Avila Falls to Friends in Final KCAC Series

WICHITA, Kan. – In their final conference doubleheader of the 2024 campaign, Avila softball (30-18, 17-9 KCAC) dropped both games to Friends (31-15, 19-7 KCAC) for the second straight season, mixing up the KCAC landscape with only a few days left in the regular season.

The last unbeaten team in the KCAC this season, the Eagles had long locked up a spot in next week's eight-team KCAC Tournament. But the Eagles finished the season much colder than how they started, and after Tuesday's two defeats coupled with a couple of other results, Avila might well end up outside of the top four. Still, the Eagles have won 30-plus games for the second straight season under Charlie Kennedy, and last season's conference tournament champs will certainly have a chance to defend their title next week in Great Bend, regardless of their final seed.

If the Eagles are on a cold stretch, the Falcons are certainly the opposite. With Tuesday's two wins, Friends has now won 11 games in a row, and are easily the most in-form team going into next week's postseason. Most teams would like to have one top pitcher, and Friends possesses at least two if not three – and the Eagles scored in only one inning against two of those Falcon arms on Tuesday.

After both McKayla Cotton and Riley Wertz fired a pair of scoreless innings to kick off Tuesday's series opener, the Falcons opened the scoring in a big way in the bottom of the third, scoring five runs on six hits to jump in front. RBI singles from Laila Spracklen and Vanessa Sigala in the fourth inning helped Friends add three more and slide to the precipice of victory.

Finally, in the fifth inning, the Eagles manufactured their first real chance of the game when Hallie Campbell walked and Julia Douglass smacked a double to right to give Avila two runners in scoring position, but Wertz locked it down and struck out the final two hitters she faced to preserve an 8-0 win via run-rule for the Falcons in game one. Douglass' double was Avila's only hit against Wertz in the game.

Fresh off winning game one, Friends came out firing in game two before Avila finally found its footing in the middle innings. The Falcons struck for two runs right out of the gates thanks to RBI singles from Wertz and Becca Dunn, but then both teams came to battle in the fifth inning to make things a game.

The Eagles had little going against veteran Falcon Laila Spracklen through four innings, but they were able to manufacture their first big inning of the day in the fifth. An error put Maya Richards on base with one out, and a Katie Wentworth sacrifice got Richards into scoring position. Chelsea Kurtz followed with an infield hit and a steal of second, and Kennedy elected to summon Montana Stangel for a pinch-hit appearance.

That move paid immediate dividends, as Stangel took Spracklen out with a deep ball to center field, getting the Eagles on the board for the first time in the series and giving them their first lead, 3-2.

That lead was short-lived, however. Madyson Withey gave Avila an excellent outing in relief for the second straight game, but Friends immediately countered Avila's three-run fifth inning with a three-run fifth of their own, capped by a two-run single from Fallyn Marshall to put the home team on top 5-3. Spracklen eventually struck out the side in the seventh to wrap up the win and a doubleheader sweep for Friends.

Avila had already been assured of a spot in the 2024 KCAC Softball Championship, which will begin next Wednesday, May 1, in Great Bend, Kansas. Up first, though, the Eagles will play one final doubleheader in the regular season when Avila welcomes Missouri Baptist to The Z for Senior Day this Saturday, April 27. The doubleheader begins at noon, with Senior Day between the games and a special Graduation ceremony to follow. As always, you can watch all the action live and for free on the Avila Sports Network.