OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION GIVES BASEBALL SEASON SERIES OVER SAINT MARY

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – A game that saw 47 combined hits, 11 total pitchers used, six lead changes and 36 runs scored went Avila baseball's way on Tuesday, defeating Saint Mary, 19-17. The win gave Avila back-to-back wins against the Spires and a win in the season series.

A quick 4-0 lead from the Eagles in the first two innings came on first-inning RBI from Caden Stillwell and Joey Reichmuth and a two-run home run from Tommy English in the second.

Saint Mary took the lead with a six-run second inning to hold an early 6-4 lead.

In the top of the third, Dylan Atherton led off the frame with a home run and three batters later, Nick Bowers scored Vinny Neilson with an RBI single to tie the game at 6-6.

With the bases loaded, English scored JJ Stubblefield on a sac fly and Isaiah Ramos scored two more two pitches later with a single to left.

The Spires tied the game in the bottom of the inning with four runs.

After three innings, the two KCAC rivals combined for 18 total runs and 25 base hits.

After a scoreless fourth inning, Saint Mary retook the lead with a pair in the bottom of the fifth and added another run in the sixth inning.

Trailing 12-9 after six, Avila started to chip away in the seventh inning.

Back-to-back singles and a walk from Ramos loaded the bases for the middle of the order. Consecutive RBI singles from Caden Stillwell and Joey Reichmuth cut into the Spire lead as the Eagles trailed just 12-11 after the top of the seventh.

Two more from Saint Mary in the bottom half re-stretched the lead back to 14-11.

Avila would take the lead for good in the eighth inning, putting up a six-spot on the line score.

The first three batters in the lineup reached base to load them up in the top of the eighth.

A sac fly from Ramos brought the Eagles to within two. Stillwell singled to re-load the bases and Reichmuth plated two with a single up the middle to tie the game at 14-14.

The next batter, on the eighth pitch of the at-bat, Dylan Atherton cleared the bases with a three-run shot to put Avila up 17-14.

Saint Mary scored two more in the bottom of the eighth to bring it to within one but a wild pitch and a sac fly in the ninth gave Avila two insurance runs to finalize the 19-17 victory.

Avila's leadoff hitter, English, went 5-5 with a walk, five runs scored, three RBI and a walk; and the top five hitters in the Eagle lineup each had at least two RBI and combined for 17 of Avila's 18 RBI. 

Just two regular season series remain for Avila, the first of which begins on Friday for a three-game set at Oklahoma Wesleyan. First pitch from Bartlesville, Okla., is slated for 3 PM.

(photo credit: Shomari Finch)