SOFTBALL TAKES TWO IN DAY ONE OF FRIENDS INVITATIONAL

WICHITA, Kan. – Avila softball picked up a pair of tough wins in day one of the Friends University Invitational in Wichita on Saturday, defeating Doane, 7-2 and topping Morningside in the second game, 6-2.

In the opening game of the invitational, Avila used strong pitching from McKayla Cotton and Aarilynn Richardson to come away with the victory.

Cotton pitched five innings of two-run ball before Richardson came on to finish the game off with a perfect seventh inning to secure the win and finish off her two innings in the circle.

Avila scored a run in the first thanks to Cotton drawing a bases-loaded walk to score Julia Douglass and added two more in the second on a Maya Richards RBI single and Abi Beaman coming around to score two batters later on an error by the Doane catcher.

The Eagles big inning was the sixth, when the offense put the game away.

Laila Rueda smacked a single to center field and promptly stole second. Jaka Sharp then reached on an error, which ultimately scored Reuda. Two batters later, Ka'Zem Wood scored Sharp on an RBI single.

Douglass knocked a single after Wood reached, and Myra Megli scored both Wood and Douglass on a two-RBI single to left field.

Plating seven, Avila picked up a 7-2 victory in the morning's game one.

In game two on the day, Avila saw success from all over the field.

After giving up a quick run in the top of the first, the Eagle offense showed out in the bottom of the second.

Avila batted around in their second time up to the plate, with Sharp getting the table set with a double to lead off the inning.

Kennedee Lara followed Sharp's base hit with a single of her own. The next batter, up, Emily Branson, was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

The next four Avila batters – Richards, Wood, Douglass and Megli – recording RBI singles, with the final run of the inning coming on a Cotton fielder's choice to score Wood.

Through two, Avila held a 5-1 lead and that was all the offense the Eagles would need.

Avila added one more run in the fifth on a Stephanie Hayes RBI double to put the finishing touches on the 6-2 victory.

Strong Avila pitching helped the Eagles to the win again, with Deja Gardenhire and Richardson pitching four shutout innings in relief to finish the game off after freshman Addison Hassett recorded her first collegiate win.

Avila will be back in action on Sunday, taking on Peru State (10 AM) and Hastings (12:20 PM) in Wichita.