SCHRANZ STRIKES OUT 11 IN RUN-RULE WIN OVER SOUTHWESTERN

WINFIELD, Kan. – Starting pitcher Cashen Schranz dominated with a seven-inning, complete game, 11-strikeout performance to help Avila baseball to a 12-1, seven-inning victory over Southwestern on Thursday night, stretching the Eagles winning streak to four games.

Avila looked to be in promising position in the top of the first inning, loading the bases with no outs, but the Eagles only scored one in their first time up.

Dominant pitching from Avila's senior pitcher led the way while a seven-run third inning from the Avila bats put the game out of reach.

The Avila offense kept the line moving in the top half of the third inning, getting an RBI single from Joey Reichmuth and back-to-back run-scoring doubles from Aaron Mcleod-Smith and Dylan Athlerton (two RBI).

After a Moundbuilders pitching change, Avila added three more to the inning, including a two-RBI triple from Will Clark, who came around to score on a Southwestern error.

Through three, Avila held an 8-0 lead.

Schranz opened the game by setting down the first 11 Southwestern batters in order before a two-out, third-inning walk, which he got out of by striking out the next batter.

As Schranz continued his lights-out pitching on the mound, Reichmuth added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the sixth, scoring Tommy English and JJ Stubblefield to put Avila in double-digits, 10-1.

The lone blemish on Schranz's line came from a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Two more runs from Avila's offense in the top of the seventh gave the Eagles all they would need to defeat the Moundbuilders in seven innings.

Schranz's final line: 7.0 innings pitched, three hits allowed, one earned run and 11 punch-outs.

At the plate, Reichmuth led the Eagles with three RBI, while Atherton and Clark added two each.

All nine Avila starters – or their courtesy runners – scored at least one run and Avila's 3-5 hitters (English, Caden Stillwell and Reichmuth) combined to go 7-13 with four runs scored and five RBI. 

The two teams are back at it for a doubleheader on Friday from Winfield beginning at 11 AM.

 (photo credit: Rhett Rogers)