BEAMAN POWERS SOFTBALL TO SPLIT WITH KANSAS WESLEYAN

SALINA, Kan. – Nearing the end of the regular season, Avila softball went 1-1 in Saturday's doubleheader at Kansas Wesleyan, winning 4-3 before losing 12-1.

In the first game of the day, Avila used the powerful bat of Abi Beaman and consistent pitching from McKayla Cotton to secure the win.

The Eagles nearly scored in the top of the first, but stranded the bases loaded. However, in the top of the third inning, the freshman from Frontenac, Kan., put the Eagles ahead.

For the third time this week, Beaman blasted a ball over the fence, this time a two-run shot to left field to give Avila a 2-0 lead.

Beaman's heroics came up again in the fifth when she hit her second home run of the day – and fourth of the week. It was another two-run shot to left field to increase Avila's lead to 4-0.

Holding a 4-0 lead entering the seventh inning, Cotton ran into trouble.

With two outs, KWU used two hits to score three runs to bring the Coyotes to within one.

Aarilynn Richardson came on in relief to secure the final out and give Avila a nerve-wracking 4-3 victory over their KCAC rivals.

There were not many positives to take from the second game of the doubleheader, as Kansas Wesleyan handed Avila a 12-1 loss in five innings.

After Avila scored one in the first, KWU put up 11 in the next three innings and added a 12^th run in the bottom of the fourth.

The Eagles were unable to add any offense in the second game and left Salina with a split.

Avila will travel to Oklahoma Wesleyan for a doubleheader on Wednesday before returning to The Z to celebrate Senior Day on April 19 versus Bethel.