WALK-OFF SINGLE HELPS SOFTBALL SPLIT WITH PARK

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Back on their home field for the second doubleheader of the season, Avila softball earned a split with Park on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles took care of the first game, winning 5-4 on an Abi Beaman walk-off before losing 5-1 in the second game.

In the bottom of the first of the opening game, Stephanie Hayes came around to score during a rundown in which Beaman was caught stealing. Avila held an early 1-0 lead.

The top of the third saw starting pitcher McKayla Cotton get out of a bases-loaded jam by inducing a foul popup to keep Park scoreless.

Avila made Park pay in the bottom half of the inning.

Hayes whacked a single to right field to score Maya Richards and extend the Eagle lead to 2-0.

First baseman Madison Kelly added a third Avila run in the fourth inning, scoring Emily Collins on an RBI single.

Things turned for Avila in the top of the fifth.

Cotton got a flyout to open the inning, which was followed by a single from the Pirates. The third batter of the inning, Faith Tessman hit a grounder that bounced out of Collins' glove to put two runners on with just one out.

Park's next batter singled to load the bases.

A fielder's choice on the ensuing batter scored a run and the Pirates followed that up with a two-RBI double in the gap. A third-straight batter recorded a run, with Park scoring on an RBI double to give Park a 4-3 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Kelly picked up her second RBI of the day with a single to center to score Jaka Sharp, tying the game entering the seventh.

Returning for her second inning of work in the circle, Faith Heaster kept the Pirates off the scoreboard in the top half of the inning to give Avila a chance in the bottom.

With a chance at victory, Emily Branson got on with a single to left field and Hayes put a runner in scoring position by drawing a walk.

Abi Beaman played the hero in the game, scoring Branson on a walk-off single up the middle to give Avila a 5-4 win.

Kelly (three), Hayes, Beaman and Richards (two each) were the four Avila batters with multiple hits in the contest.

Heaster came on from the bullpen to pitch 2.0 innings, allowing just one baserunner and striking out a pair.

In game no. 2, Park's bats won it early.

A two-RBI double in the top of the first set the table for a second inning in which the Pirates scored on an error and back-to-back run-scoring hits.

After two, Park held a 5-0 lead.

Avila would get one back in the bottom of the third on a Piper Greeson RBI double, but the Eagles couldn't muster any more offense, falling 5-1 and splitting the doubleheader.

Avila is back on the field next weekend for four games on Feb. 14 and 15 at Homefield in Kansas City, Kan., facing Cottey and Doane on Saturday beginning at 11 AM.