THREE VIRDEN HOMERS NOT ENOUGH AS BASEBALL LOSES TO OKWU IN WINDY CONDITIONS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – One of the craziest weather days for Avila Athletics in recent memory saw a one-hour first-pitch delay, a 1:15 lightning delay, 60-plus mile-per-hour winds, dwindling daylight in the later innings because of dust being blown in from Texas and fly balls being blown all over the outfield with the Kansas City winds. Avila baseball was unable to overcome that – despite three home runs and five RBI from Jack Virden – falling to Oklahoma Wesleyan on Friday, 12-6.

Avila held a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth when the game was delayed for more than an hour because of lightning and a flash thunderstorm in the Kansas City area.

Avila Got up early in the second because of a solo home run from Virden over the left field fence. Virden would add two more RBI to his total the following inning with another home run over the left field wall, scoring Landon Vahle.

After the teams emerged from the locker rooms, OKWU's bats woke up and they were able to take the victory in the first of three games between the two conference rivals.

The sixth inning is where the OKWU bats turned on.

The visiting Eagles added three in the sixth, two in the seventh, six in the eighth and an insurance run in the ninth to secure the victory.

On the offensive end for Avila, Virden finished the game 4-4 with three home runs and five RBI.

The two teams will be back in action for a doubleheader on Saturday, with first pitch slated for 12 PM from The Z.