SOFTBALL OPENS HOME SEASON WITH MISSOURI VALLEY SPLIT
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Missouri Valley | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 0 |
|
Avila | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Missouri Valley | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 1 |
|
Avila | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | X | 5 | 7 | 0 |
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – While technically this was Avila softball's second day playing at The Z, Wednesday versus Missouri Valley was the Eagles home opener. Avila split the two games with its intrastate rival, losing game one 5-2 before flipping the switch and picking up a 5-2 win in the second game.
The first game was delayed by approximately an hour and it's possible that the schedule chang impacted Avila. Missouri Valley scored one in the first inning and added three more in the third.
Avila got on the scoreboard for the first time in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a Deja Gardenhire RBI double.
A Vikings fifth-inning home run sealed the deal, although Myra Megli hit a solo home run of her own for the Eagles in the sixth.
Missouri Valley left the first game with a 5-2 victory.
Avila turned the tables in the second game, scoring in the bottom of the first thanks to Megli's bat once again as the senior belted an RBI double to left field. After one, Avila held a 1-0 lead.
The Vikings took a quick lead thanks to single runs in the third and fourth.
Avila's offense woke up in the bottom of the fifth due to Stephanie Hayes and Julia Douglass RBI knocks.
The Eagles added two more insurance runs in the sixth thanks to Kennedee Lara and Maya Richards – who both came on as pinch hitters – and recorded RBIs.
Aarilynn Richardson came on to save the game in the bottom of the seventh from the circle, getting three quick outs including a game-ending put out on a perfect throw from center field to home plate from Ka'Zem Wood – her second outfield assist of the game.
Also coming out of the bullpen and pitching an inning and two thirds of shutout baseball, allowing just four base runners, was Gardenhire who entered in relief of Mackenzie Daniels.
At the plate in game number two, Avila had five different batters record an RBI and six players with a hit – including two from Douglass from the leadoff spot.
Avila will be back in action this weekend with four games from Wichita as part of the Friends tournament. The Eagles kick off the tournament at 11 AM on Saturday versus Doane.
(photo credit: Issy Aguilar)
