DOUBLEHEADER SHUTOUT HELPS SOFTBALL WIN FOURTH-STRAIGHT
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Avila | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
|
Saint Mary | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Avila | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 1 |
|
Saint Mary | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – Dominating pitching and timely hitting helped Avila softball win its fourth-straight with a sweep of Saint Mary on Tuesday, 3-0 and 4-0.
Senior pitcher McKayla Cotton continued her dominating season in the circle in the opening game, tossing 7.0 shutout innings, allowing six baserunners and striking out seven. It was Cotton's seventh appearance this season without allowing an earned run.
All three of Avila's runs came in the third inning – and it was all the offense the team would need.
Maya Richards whacked a single and promptly stole second, where she was immediately driven in by Elizabeth Harvey.
Harvey would then steal second and be joined on the basepaths by Abi Beaman after a walk.
Cotton drove in Harvey on an RBI single and Stephanie Hayes ended the scoring with a sac fly to score Beaman.
Richards and Cotton each had a pair of hits in the contest while Richards and Harvey both stole two bases. They were joined in the stolen base column by Beaman and Marisa Sanchez to help Avila to its third-straight victory.
The second game was much of the same in the circle, with Faith Heaster throwing seven shutout innings, facing just 29 total Spire batters.
At the plate, Cotton continued her amazing day, driving in Beaman on an RBI single four batters into the game.
In the second inning, catcher Sophia Medina scored Emily Collins on a well-placed single to give Avila a 2-0 lead.
It was Cotton again in the third inning, scoring Beaman on another RBI single for her third total run-scoring hit of the day.
Avila's final run of the day came from Emily Branson, who scored Jaka Sharp on a sacrifice fly for the second out of the third inning.
In the two games, Beaman scored three of Avila's nine total runs and Cotton drove in three of the nine without allowing a run on the rubber.
Avila has now won four-in-a-row and 10 of its last 11 games. During the program's winning streak, the Eagles have outscored their opponents 20-2.
The Eagles (20-11, 9-1 KCAC) are back at The Z for four-consecutive home games, beginning with a doubleheader against Bethany on Saturday, beginning at 12 PM.
(photo credit: Ali Nassir)
