VILLALOBOS HELPS BASEBALL TO SPLIT WITH BETHANY

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A second-straight dominating start from an Avila starting pitcher helped the Eagles to a split with Bethany on Saturday afternoon, winning 6-0 before falling 6-1 in the second end.

In the opener, Antonio Villalobos IV threw 6.1 innings, striking out four Swede batters and allowing just two hits.

It was a pitchers' duel for the first third of the game, as the first runs didn't come until the bottom of the fourth inning off a two-RBI single from Diego Solis to score Aidan Johnson and Dylan Atherton.

The fifth inning was where the Eagle offense put the game away, with Atherton plating a pair with a two-run double sandwiched in between runs scored from an error and a wild pitch to give Avila a 6-0 lead.

Villalobos only allowed multiple baserunners two times in six-and-a-third innings.

Corbin Hamman came in to throw 2.2 shutout innings out of the bullpen, allowing just one hit.

The win in the opener was Avila's second-straight victory and third in the last four games.

Unfortunately, Avila's offense was unable to produce the same output in the second end of the doubleheader, losing 6-1.

Bethany scored twice in the second inning before JJ Stubblefield cut the lead in half with an RBI single in the bottom half.

The Swedes scored two more runs each in the third and fifth innings to finalize the scoreline. 

Avila will go for the series win on Sunday against Bethany from The Z. First pitch is slated for 12 PM.

 (photo credit: Rhett Rogers)