MCKAYLA COTTON WINS BACK-TO-BACK KCAC SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK AWARDS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – As if there was any doubt.

Following one of the best individual performances in Avila history, senior McKayla Cotton has been named the KCAC Softball Pitcher of the Week for the second-consecutive week, the conference announced today.

Highlighted by a no-hitter on Saturday versus Friends, the senior from Costa Mesa, Calif., tossed 13.0 shutout innings this past week, striking out eight batters with a 0.46 WHIP across three victories for the Eagles.

“I’m extremely excited for McKayla Cotton,” said head coach Charlie Kennedy. “She has worked hard this entire year to establish herself as one of the elite pitchers in this league. Saturday’s performance was by far her best in an Eagle uniform. To shut down Friends in the opener and come back in relief to get six outs in the second game is something we haven’t seen in a long time. I’m looking forward to seeing what is in store for her and her leadership on the rubber as we continue the season.”

Cotton’s dominant Saturday against Friends began with a seven strikeout, two-baserunners allowed no-hitter in the first end of the doubleheader and she followed that up by coming on for two shutout innings of relief in the second end to nab a no-hit win and a save on the same day.

Additionally, Cotton began her week with 4.0 shutout innings in Cocoa Beach, Fla., allowing just three hits against No. 20 Coastal Georgia on Tuesday.

In total this season, Cotton has pitched 75.0 innings for Avila, striking out 46 batters with a 1.68 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, eight wins and four complete games, helping Avila to a 15-10 record and 4-0 record in the KCAC as the Eagles currently sit atop the conference standings.

Cotton and her teammates are back in action on Wednesday for a doubleheader at Kansas Wesleyan.