EIGHTEEN RUNS POWERS BASEBALL TO WIN AT BENEDICTINE

ATCHISON, Kan. – Six extra-base hits, four stolen bases and four home runs powered Avila baseball to an 18-13 win at Benedictine on Wednesday afternoon, Avila's fourth win in their last five games.

The Eagles scored in seven of their nine innings at bat, including 10 runs in the final four frames.

After getting down in an early 2-0 hole, the Eagles came right back in the top of the second inning with a pair of home runs.

Dylan Atherton hit a solo shot and JJ Stubblefield recorded his fourth two-run shot in his last four games to put Avila ahead 3-2.

Avila put up a four-spot in the fourth inning, scoring on a bases-loaded passed ball, a two-run single from Stubblefield and a run-scoring wild pitch to go up 7-3.

Benedictine re-took the lead in the fifth innig before Avila took it right back in the sixth.

An RBI single from Atherton, an error and a wild pitch put the Eagles back on top, 11-9.

After the Ravens tied the game once again, Tommy English took the lead back with a solo home run in the seventh – Avila's third of the game – to go up 12-11.

Another Benedictine tie preceded a two-RBI ground-rule double from Aidan Johnson in the eighth inning to give the Eagles a lead they would not surrender.

The Eagles saved their best home run for last.

In the ninth inning, the first three batters of the inning loaded the bases and Caden Stillwell promptly cleared them with a grand slam to put Avila up 18-13.

In total, Avila had five players record multiple hits, 10 players score at least one run – including an astonishing five from Atherton – and four players drive in multiple runs in the contest.

Stillwell and Stubblefield led the Eagles with four RBI each, Johnson had three and Atherton drove in a pair and English, Reichmuth, Vinny Neilson and Stubblefield all scored twice in the 18-run game.

Avila's 18 runs scored are its most in almost exactly one year – March 11, 2025, against York. 

After finishing a stretch of seven games in five days, Avila will have some time off before traveling to Evangel on Tuesday for a 2 PM first pitch against the Valor.

 (photo credit: Ali Nassir)