SOFTBALL BOWS OUT OF KCAC TOURNAMENT TO TOP SEED IN SEMIFINALS, AWAITS AT-LARGE POSSIBILITY

BRANSON, Mo. – In one of the busiest days of their season, Avila softball went 2-1 in the second day of the KCAC Tournament on Thursday, defeating Oklahoma Wesleyan and Ottawa before falling in the semifinals to top-seeded Friends. Avila now awaits its chances at an at-large bid for the NAIA National Tournament next week.

In the opening game against Oklahoma Wesleyan, Avila was powered by a two-run home run from Myra Megli in the second inning and a two-run double from Julia Douglass in the third.

OKWU's lone run of the game came in the bottom half of the third inning with the bases loaded, but McKayla Cotton was able to limit the damage to just one run.

In the fifth inning, Cotton punched an RBI single to center field for her second hit of the day to wrap up the 5-1 victory and eliminate OKWU from the tournament.

KCAC Freshman of the Year Abi Beaman finished the game with two hits and a pair of runs scored. In addition to her RBI in the fifth, Cotton pitched a complete game allowing just one run to limit Oklahoma Wesleyan's offense.

Thirty minutes after beating OKWU, Avila took on Ottawa in another single-elimination matchup. Megli and Beaman would help the Eagles pick up their second victory of the day while, in the circle, Avila had another shutdown pitching performance, this time from Mackenzie Daniels who tossed Avila's second complete game of the day, allowing just two runs.

Ottawa scored first with two runs in the third, but that is all the offense they would muster.

Beaman answered back immediately with a two-run double in the third inning before the Eagles would unload with a four-run fourth inning.

Megli, Madison Kelly, Emily Branson and Maya Richards would record four-consecutive RBI singles to give Avila its eventual 6-2 winning scoreline.

With the victory, the Eagles would head to the KCAC Tournament semifinals to take on No. 1 seed Friends with a trip to the championship game on the line.

Having defeated Friends at The Z just over a week ago, Avila was not daunted taking on one of the top teams in the country.

The Falcons got on the scoreboard with a first-inning solo home run before McKayla Cotton tied the game in the third inning with an RBI double.

Friends put up two runs in the fourth inning and Stephanie Hayes would add a two-run home run in the fifth to once again tie the game, this time at 3-3.

Another two-run shot from the Falcons in the sixth inning put Avila on the ropes, but senior Ka'Zem Wood scored Cerina Natal in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single. With three outs remaining, Avila trailed by one.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, they went down in order in the bottom of the seventh and were eliminated from the 2025 KCAC Tournament after a 3-2 record.

Having played three-consecutive games on Thursday and five total games over a two-day span, Avila showed its poise and skill level in the very challenging KCAC Tournament.

Avila went into the tournament as the No. 3 seed and finished in third place. The Eagles now await a potential at-large big into the NAIA National Tournament, which will be announced on May 7 at 5 PM CT.