SOFTBALL PLAYS TOP OPPONENTS, SPLITS DOUBLEHEADER

BRANSON, Mo. – Avila softball played two big opponents on the first day of the Branson Showtime Classic, losing to No. 2 Oklahoma City, 13-1, before defeating Mission 7-0.

In the opener against the second-ranked team in the country, the Stars used an eight-run seventh inning to put the game away.

Oklahoma City scored a pair of runs in each of the first two innings and added another in the fourth.

Avila's lone run from the first game came in the fourth inning off an RBI single from McKayla Cotton.

The Eagles were unable to mount a comeback after OKC's eight-run seventh inning, falling to the Stars, 13-1.

The second game of the doubleheader went much better for Avila.

Laila Rueda opened the game with a leadoff walk, promptly stole second and third and then came around to score on an error by the Mission catcher. One batter, 1-0 Avila.

Marissa Sanchez and Stephanie Hayes each reached based following Rueda's run and Cotton was able to bring Sanchez around to score on her second RBI of the day.

In the third inning, Hayes plated a pair of runs on a two-run homer, and, four batters later, Marissa Espinoza scored Jordy Pollo on an RBI single.

After three, Avila held a 5-0 lead.

To put the game away, Avila hit back-to-back home runs to open the seventh inning. Hayes launched her second of the day and Addison Hassett followed that up with a pinch-hit home run of her own, finalizing the 7-0 score.

Mackenzie Daniels tossed a gem, pitching seven shutout innings, allowing just four baserunners to get Avila back in the win column.

Rueda stole four more bases against Mission and currently sits in third place in the KCAC with 12 swiped bags on the young season.

The Eagles will play two more games in Branson on Sunday, beginning with Morningside at 11:30 AM.