BASEBALL SPLITS ON SATURDAY, WINS SERIES OVER EVANGEL

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two close games with Evangel on Saturday saw Avila earn a split on the day and a series win against the conference rival.

The first game of the afternoon saw the Valor scatter runs across five different innings, highlighted by a three-run seventh.

Trailing 3-0 entering the sixth, Avila mounted a valiant comeback attempt, but the Valor seventh inning put the game away.

In the sixth, Avila's offense had back-to-back home runs from Landon Vahle and Ricky Dober to tie the game at three.

Those were the only runs the Eagles would score in the first game and fell, 7-3.

Avila bounced back in the second game, scoring early and using strong pitching to pick up the win and take the series.

The Eagles opened the scoring in the first inning with an RBI single from Jack Virden. The bats would add two more the following inning on a Gio Armas sacrifice fly followed up by a Zach Dillman RBI single up the middle.

Through two, Avila held a 3-2 lead.

Evangel tied the game up in the third on an Avila error, but the Eagles would put the game away an inning later.

The first three Avila batters in the fourth reached base, with Landon Vahle scoring Robby Cable on a fielder's choice.

Avila added an insurance run in the sixth with Dober scoring Emmanuel Ealey – pinch-running for Armas – on a sac fly.

Evangel had three baserunners in the top of the seventh, but on the mound, Christian Whiting shut the door on the Valor to give Avila the 5-3 win.

Whiting was solid coming out of the bullpen for Avila, throwing three innings of shutout baseball in relief of starter Logan Empson, who pitched four innings, allowing just two earned. 

Avila has a busy week coming up, with five home games at The Z, beginning with two against York on Tuesday. First pitch is slated for 11 AM.

 (photo credit: Albert Guerrero)