BEAMAN’S WALK-OFF HELPS AVILA SPLIT WITH OTTAWA

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In a midweek doubleheader pitting two of the top teams in the KCAC against each other, Avila softball split with Ottawa on Tuesday afternoon, losing 4-2 before picking up a 5-4 victory in the second end.

In the opening game, Avila was unable to get the late hit needed to come away with the victory.

The two teams traded runs back-and-forth in the fourth and fifth innings, where, after five, the score was tied at 2-2.

Ottawa scored a run each in the sixth and seventh innings, but Avila only got one hit in the final two innings and fell, 4-2.

The Braves nearly swept the doubleheader, but an Eagle rally late in the second game made for some exciting drama in south Kansas City.

Ottawa took a 4-0 lead after a three-run home run in the top of the fifth inning.

From there, Avila started chipping away.

Two errors in the bottom of the fifth inning put two runs on the scoreboard for Avila, halving Ottawa's lead. After five, Avila trailed 4-2.

Stellar work out of the bullpen from McKayla Cotton helped Avila's offense stay in the game.

A 1-2-3 top of the sixth set the table for a big bottom half.

A leadoff double from Madison Kelly and a stolen base put the Eagle first baseman on third with no outs.

Two batters later, Emily Branson brought Kelly home to score and cut the deficit to 4-3.

A Marissa Sanchez sacrifice bunt was supposed to put Branson on second but the Braves committed their third error of the game and Branson went first-to-home to tie the game after the six innings.

Cotton set Ottawa down 1-2-3 in the seventh inning and Avila won the game on just four pitches in the bottom half.

With one out, Maya Richards smacked a perfectly-placed ball to right center for a triple and sent the Avila dugout into a frenzy.

The next batter, Abi Beaman, hit the ensuing pitch to deep left field for a walk-off single that sent Richards home and their teammates pouring out of the dugout to celebrate the 5-4 victory.

Cotton threw 2.2 shutout innings in relief and allowed only two baserunners.

In two games today, Madison Kelly reached base four times while Maya Richards notched three hits and two runs; Abi Beaman's lone hit of the twin-bill came when it mattered most. 

The Eagles (24-15, 13-5 KCAC) hit the road for two at Bethel on Saturday beginning at 12 PM.

 (photo credit: Ali Nassir)