LATE-INNINGS COST SOFTBALL IN LOSS TO COTTEY

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Playing under the lights for the first time in 2026, Avila softball fell on Saturday to Cottey, 8-4.

Avila started off strong early in the contest. Despite being in an early 2-0 hole, the Eagles fought back with three-straight RBI base hits from Abi Beaman, Stephanie Hayes and McKayla Cotton in the bottom of the first. Cotton scored Avila's fourth run of the inning on a wild pitch to put the Eagles up 4-2 after the first.

Neither team had more than one baserunner in any of the next three innings.

The sixth was where things turned for Avila.

Cottey put up three in the top half of the sixth inning, scoring on a pair of fielder's choices and a wild pitch to take a 5-4 lead.

The Comets added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh on two Avila fielding errors.

Avila still recorded eight hits in the game, but was unable to overcome Cottey's offense in the later innings.

The Eagles will have two more opportunities at Homefield in Kansas City, Kansas on Sunday, taking on Park and Columbia beginning at 11 AM.