DILLMAN GRAND SLAM HELPS AVILA WIN AT SOUTHWESTERN

WINFIELD, Kan. – Facing an early 3-0 deficit at Southwestern on Tuesday, Avila baseball chipped away at the lead throughout the game, before securing the 9-4 win with a five-run sixth inning over the Moundbuilders.

Southwestern put up three runs in the bottom of the first inning on a pair of RBI singles and a sacrifice fly.

Avila's offense couldn't get anything going until the fourth inning when the Eagles started chipping away at the lead.

In the top of the fourth, Avila used small ball to get its first run across. Landon Vahle opened the inning with a leadoff single. Vahle would move to second on a Ricky Dober walk, advance to third on a fielder's choice the next batter and score on a passed ball to get the Eagles on the board.

The Eagles would get another run in the fifth when Thomas English scored on a Zach Dillman fielder's choice.

The sixth inning is where Avila would wrap up the win.

With two outs and the bases loaded, Tyler King drew a hit by pitch to score a run and bring up Dillman.

As he has done all year, Dillman came through in a big way, blasting a grand slam over the fence to empty the bases and give Avila a 7-3 lead through six innings.

Robby Cable would add an RBI in the seventh and ninth innings to get Avila to nine runs on the day, while Southwestern only managed one more run after their three-run first inning.

In addition to his five-RBI day at the plate, Dillman started the game on the mound, tossing 5.2 innings with six strikeouts.

Another huge performance out of the bullpen from Aidan Johnson helped Avila hold on to its lead as the recent KCAC Pitcher of the Week threw 3.1 no-hit innings in relief.

Out of the bullpen, Johnson has not allowed an earned run in his last 19.2 innings.

Weather permitting, Avila will host Tabor for three games this weekend, beginning with a single game at 2 PM on Friday.