SOFTBALL SPLITS FIRST DAY OF NAIA SOFTBALL INVITATIONAL
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Oklahoma Panhandle State | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
|
Avila | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 16 | 1 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Avila | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
|
Grand View | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | X | 7 | 9 | 1 |
SHAWNEE, Okla. – Avila softball split the first day of the NAIA Softball Invitational on Saturday afternoon, defeating Oklahoma Panhandle State, 9-1 in six innings, before falling to No. 6 Grand View, 7-1.
In the opener versus the Aggies, the Eagles got production from up and down the lineup as five different players recorded at least one RBI and seven players scored at least one run.
Avila put up its first runs in the second inning. With two outs, Jaka Sharp drove in her first run of the game on an RBI single, immediately followed up by a two-RBI single from Emily Collins to go up 3-0 early.
OPSU's lone run of the game came in the top of the third, but Avila immediately responded.
Starting in the circle and batting, McKayla Cotton got her run back with a single to score Abi Beaman.
4-1 Avila through three.
The Eagles put the game away in the bottom of the sixth with nine-straight batters reaching base.
The inning began with three-straight RBI from Sharp, Harvey and Marissa Espinoza.
Avila put the game away with its No. 4 and 5 hitters. Beaman singled to score Collins and Cotton walked the game off with an RBI single to score Stephanie Hayes and finalize the 9-1 victory.
In the circle, Cotton had another strong performance, setting down the final eight batters of the game. In addition to her pitching exploits, Cotton went 2-for-3 at the plate, driving in a pair of runs.
Beaman and Elizabeth Harvey (three each), Maya Richards, Cotton, Tehani Chinen, Jaka Sharp (two each) were the six Avilla batters with multiple hits in the contest.
Avila's 17 hits as a team were a season-high.
The second end of the doubleheader did not go Avila's way, losing 6-1 to the sixth-ranked team in the NAIA poll.
Grand View put up runs in four of its six innings at bat.
The Eagles still got six hits in the contest, but only brought one runner around to score in the game, leaving eight runners on base throughout the game.
Avila has two more opportunities for wins on Sunday, taking on RV Baker and No. 16 Midland beginning at 10 AM.
(photo credit: Ali Nassir)
