HUGE 10-RUN NINTH-INNING RALLY GIVES BASEBALL COMEBACK WIN

HILLSBORO, Kan. – Trailing by six entering the ninth inning, Avila baseball scored 10 runs on Saturday afternoon for a huge come-from-behind 21-18 over Tabor.

Joey Reichmuth got the Eagles on the board in the first inning with a three-run shot. Tabor added two in the bottom half.

A two-run double from Dylan Atherton in the top of the third preceded a three-spot from the Bluejays in the bottom half. Avila added another on an RBI double from Isaiah Ramos in the fourth.

After four, Avila held a 6-5 lead.

Tabor tied it in the bottom of the fifth before Avila took the lead right back.

In the sixth, Caden Stillwell brought home Tommy English on an RBI groundout sandwiched in between a pair of run-scoring wild pitches.

The Bluejays tied the game with three more in the bottom of the sixth and took the lead with two in the seventh.

A fielder's choice and a wild pitched in the eighth inning by Tabor tied the game at 11 for Avila late in the game.

In the bottom half, Tabor added six to go up 17-11 and it looked like the hometown Bluejays were headed for a victory.

An Avila comeback was standing in the way.

The first three batters of the ninth inning reached base for Avila as the lineup turned over.

On a 3-2 count, Tommy English cleared the bases with Avila's second grand slam in as many days.

17-15 before the first out was recorded in the ninth inning.

The bases were loaded once again four batters later. Vinny Neilson tied the game up with a two-run single up the middle.

Later, with two outs, Aidan Johnson worked a seven-pitch walk to load the bases once more.

Avila took the lead with a bases-loaded walk from Nick Bowers and Avila added three more on a balk, wild pitch and an RBI single from English – his fifth RBI of the inning.

After trailing 17-11 entering the ninth, Avila lead 21-17 after a 10-run barrage with their backs against the wall.

Tabor got a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth, but Aiden Sims shut the door for Avila to hold onto the 21-18 victory.

The top four batters in the order for Avila – English, Ramos, Stillwell and Reichmuth – notched seven hits, nine walks, 14 runs and 11 RBI.

The 21 runs are Avila's second game with 20-plus runs in the last two weeks and their third game with 18 or more runs this season. 

With just seven regular season games remaining, Avila is back in action on Tuesday at St. Mary. First pitch from Leavenworth is at 2 PM.

 (photo credit: Ali Nassir)