KELLY POWERS SOFTBALL TO SPLIT IN FLORIDA

COCOA BEACH, Fla. – Avila softball faced a pair of top NAIA teams on Sunday at the Space Coast Games, losing closely to No. 6 Madonna, 6-2, before defeating St. Francis, 3-0.

The first game of the day pitted the Eagles against undefeated No. 6 Madonna University. Avila jumped on the board in the top of the first as Jordan Pollo walked before Abi Beaman scored her on an RBI triple. A perfect suicide squeeze from McKayla Cotton made it 2-0.

In the circle, Faith Heaster allowed just six hits in her five innings of work.

Madonna got on the scoreboard with single runs in the first, fifth and sixth and a three-run output in the third inning to give the Crusaders the victory.

Game No. 2 of the day had Avila face St. Francis of Chicago – a team that was coming off a victory over Madonna.

Avila got on the scoreboard in the second inning after Laila Rueda hit a topper in front of the plate, scoring Emily Collins.

The Eagles scored again in the third inning after Madison Kelly recorded her second hit of the game to right field, scoring Addison Hassett to give Avila a 2-0 lead.

Kelly's bat came alive again in the fifth with an RBI triple to score Cotton all the way from first base.

Cotton's run in the fifth was a note on her terrific pitching performance.

Pitching one of her best games of the season, the senior threw a complete game, two-hit shutout allowing just three basrunners in the contest. 

Avila improves to 11-10 on the season and will wrap up their time in Florida on Tuesday, taking on Coastal Georgia and Defiance beginning at 11:30 CT.

 (photo credit: Ali Nassir)