SOFTBALL SWEEPS OKWU WITH PITCHING AND OFFENSE

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Avila got wins in two different ways against Oklahoma Wesleyan on Wednesday afternoon to sweep the doubleheader. The Eagles used strong pitching in a 3-0 game one victory and a lot of offense in a 13-8 game two win.

In game one, McKayla Cotton threw a complete game shutout, allowing just six hits while using her experience to get out of a pair of bases-loaded jams to escape unscathed.

The first opportunity for offense came from OKWU in the fourth inning when the home team loaded the bases with no outs after a pair of walks and a single.

A ground ball to shortstop saw Avila record an out at home. Cotton then got the second out via strikeout and forced the third out on a flyout, stranding the bases-loaded in the fourth inning without surrendering a run.

Avila made OKWU pay for its inability to score, plating three runs in the top of the fifth – all with two outs.

Three-straight RBI hits from Abi Beaman, Stephanie Hayes and Cotton gave Avila a 3-0 lead, a lead they would not let up.

For Oklahoma Wesleyan, they had one final chance in the sixth inning, loading the bases for the second time.

Just like the first, Cotton escaped the trouble.

Cotton ended game one with seven shutout innings, plus three hits and an RBI at the plate to help Avila to a 3-0 game one victory.

Game two was a much different story between the KCAC rivals.

Each squad scored a run in the first on an extra-base hit: an RBI triple from Beaman, scoring Ka'Zem Wood – after she tripled herself – and OKWU followed it up with an RBI double of their own.

In the second inning, Avila used five-straight RBI singles and a wild pitch to plate six runs and hold a 7-1 advantage.

Laila Rueda, Maya Richards, Wood, Beaman and Hayes smacked five-straight run-scoring singles, sandwiched between Beaman scoring on a wild pitch in the second inning.

Avila would add another run in the fourth to extend their lead to 8-1 after a Hayes RBI. But OKWU had plenty left in store to mount a comeback in the fifth inning.

"This game was like a 15-round heavyweight fight," said Avila head coach Charlie Kennedy.

OKWU put up four runs in the fifth inning to inch its way back in the game.

Just like a heavyweight fight, however, whenever OKWU tried to come back, Avila would add more.

The top of the sixth saw the visiting Eagles put up three more with RBIs from Hayes and Cotton.

OKWU scored three in the bottom half of the sixth inning and through six, Avila still held an 11-8 lead.

After OKWU's three-run sixth, Avila added two more insurance runs in the seventh to finalize the 13-8 game two win and doubleheader sweep for Avila. 

Avila softball will recognize its seniors on Friday morning from The Z against Bethel. First pitch is scheduled for 10 AM.

(photo credit: Ali Nassir)