Leavenworth, Kan.—

Game One:

A three-run third inning proved the be the key as the Spires fell 3-0 to Avila in game one Tuesday afternoon at the University of Saint Mary Softball Complex.

USM limited the Eagles to a single crooked number, but the visitors made it count. Avila broke a scoreless game in the top of the third when Richards led off with a single to left-center and later stole second, setting up the inning. Harvey followed with an RBI single to right to plate Richards with the game's first run.

Avila added on quickly from there. After Harvey's run-scoring hit, Cotton helped herself out and delivered another RBI single to bring Harvey home and extend the lead to 2-0. Later in the frame, Hayes lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Beaman, capping a three-run inning that accounted for all of the scoring on the day.

The Spire pitching and defense settled in after the third, keeping the game within reach. USM did not commit an error and allowed no runs over the final four innings, working around Avila's pressure on the bases. The visitors finished with seven hits and six stolen bases, but Saint Mary limited further damage to keep the deficit at three.

Offensively, the Spires were held to two hits, one each from Kylie Vandervoort and Grace Rose, but created opportunities with discipline at the plate, drawing four walks and putting five runners on base. The Spires threatened at various points but could not come up with the timely hit needed to break through, leaving all five runners stranded.

USM's leader in the circle, Grace Rose, went the full seven for her team. Rose was hit seven times, allowed just one walk and snagged two strikeouts in 28 batters faced. 

Cotton went the distance for Avila in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout. She allowed two hits and four walks while striking out seven in 7.0 innings, keeping USM off the board despite the Spires' attempts to manufacture any sort of offense.

Game Two:

Game two would be characterized by another early Eagle surge as the Spires dropped the second 4-0 in Leavenworth.

Avila did all of its scoring in the first three, telling the same tale as game one. Pushing across single runs in the first and second before adding two more in the third. The Eagles opened the scoring in the first inning on an RBI double to left-center, then added a run in the second on a run-scoring single to center. Two more runs came across in the third on an RBI single and a sacrifice fly, giving the visitors a 4-0 cushion. From that point, Chavez and the Spires defense tightened, allowing just three hits over the final four innings while keeping Avila off the board.

Game two starter Desarae Chavez turned in a tough outing in the circle, throwing six innings and limiting Avila to four runs on seven hits. Chavez battled through early traffic, issuing three walks while working deep into counts, and kept the Eagles off the board after the third inning to give the Spires a chance to climb back into the game. The Spire defense backed her with a clean performance in the field, committing no errors on the day.

Offensively, the Spires matched Avila with six hits but were unable to break through against Avila right-hander Heaster, who scattered Saint Mary's baserunners throughout the afternoon. USM finished with eight runners left on base, including multiple innings with runners in scoring position, as Heaster induced soft contact and key outs to escape potential scoring threats. Kylie Vandervoort, Raegan McConnell, Nora Burrell, Desarae Chavez, Jayden Hanna, and Briana Solis would each tally one hit apiece in the final game of the series.

Both Chavez and Gracie Carlson posted a 7.0-inning staff effort allowing seven hits, three walks, and one strikeout. 

USM will jump right back in it, hosting another double header tomorrow, Wednesday March 25^th against the MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers, a series previously scheduled for 3/17, but was postponed due to weather. First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m. at the USM Softball Field. Your Spire softball squad currently sits 11-15 overall and 4-6 in KCAC play.