Kansas City, Mo.—USM baseball grabbed an early two-run lead this afternoon, but the Avila Eagles answered with two home runs and held on for a 3-2 victory at The Z on campus of Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri.

What would be the determining moment came in the bottom of the seventh inning, when AU's English connected for a solo home run off Hayden Roop to break a 2-2 tie. That swing gave Avila its first lead of the day and spoiled a strong opening push by the Spires, who had gone in front in the top of the first frame.

USM scored both of its runs in the opening inning. John Caime drew a walk, Saul Vazquez-Alvarado was hit by a pitch and Ian Maldonado moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt. Tannen Buss then lifted a sac fly that brought home both runs for a speedy 2-0 advantage. Vazquez-Alvarado finished with two hits in three at-bats and scored one of the Spires' runs.

Avila pulled even in the second inning. Mcleod-Smith launched a two-run homer to left-center, tying the score at 2-2 and shifting the tone of the game after the Spires fast start. From there, both pitching staffs got situated for a defensive heavy game that wouldn't see another run until the bottom of the seventh. The Spires finished with six hits and four walks, but Avila starter Johnson limited the damage across 7.2 innings. Johnson allowed six hits and two earned runs while striking out eight to earn the win.

Saint Mary's bullpen kept the game within reach most of the afternoon, striking out nine while allowing seven hits and four walks over eight innings. Roop was charged with the loss after surrendering the go-ahead homer in the seventh. The Spires also had one more late chance in the eighth, loading the bases after a pair of walks and a passed ball moved runners into scoring position, but they were unable to push across the tying run.

By the final out, the margin remained as slim as it had been all afternoon. USM left eight runners on base, matching Avila's total, and the difference came on the Eagles' two long balls, Mcleod-Smith's game-tying shot in the second and English's winner in the seventh.

Coming up, the Spires will begin their three-game series against the Sterling College Warriors kicking off this Friday, March 27^th at 3:00 p.m. Games two and three are slated for Saturday, March 28^th beginning at 1:00 p.m. at USM Baseball Field in Leavenworth, Kansas.