Leavenworth, Kan.— The Spires erased multiple deficits and pulled even in the eighth inning, but Avila answered in the ninth to hand USM a 19-17 loss Tuesday afternoon in Leavenworth, Kansas. The game changing stretch came after USM tied the game 17-17 in the bottom of the eighth frame, only to see the Eagles push across two runs in the top of the ninth. 

The game was an offensive marathon from the start. Avila scored twice in the first, with Stillwell driving in English on a sacrifice fly as part of the early rally. Saint Mary responded with a six-run second inning to grab a 6-2 lead. Saul Vazquez-Alvarado and Lucas Barta each delivered RBI singles, and Jaxon Sloan helped fuel the surge with a two-RBI sequence that also included a run scoring on a wild pitch and an error.

Avila answered immediately when English hit a two-run home run in the top of the second, then added five more runs in the third to move back in front. Atherton hit his first homerun of the afternoon during that inning, and the visitors carried a 9-6 lead before the Spires countered with four runs in the bottom half to reclaim a 10-9 advantage. The home squad kept producing offense throughout the afternoon, scoring two runs in the fifth, one in the sixth, two in the seventh and two more in the eighth.

Still, the Eagles power proved difficult to contain in the later frames. AU broke open the top of the eighth with six runs, capped by Atherton's three-run homer, his second of the day, that gave Avila a 17-15 lead. USM answered in the bottom of the inning, with Sloan's two-run double and an RBI from Ian Maldonado bringing the Spires level again at 17-17.

The ninth inning would see the Eagles make their final move offensively on a walk for Bowers, sac bunt from Dain, and an intentional walk given to English to put runners in scoring position for the visitors. Runners would advance on a wild pitch then subsequently score on a wild pitch a few short moments later. Ramos would notch a sac fly, scoring English and putting AU ahead 19-17 going into the bottom of the final inning of play.

The Spires could not produce the runs needed to salvage their afternoon as Caime, Vazquez-Alvarado, and Rockers all grounded out for the final three outs the Eagles needed to leave Leavenworth with a win.

USM finished with 17 runs, matching Avila's relentless pace for most of the day. Sloan led the Spires with three hits and five RBIs, including a two-run double in the eighth that helped tie the game. Maverick Rockers added four hits, scored three runs and drew two walks. The Spires also got production across the lineup in a game that featured over 40 combined hits and totaled 36 runs across.

Avila finished with 19 runs on 24 hits and was led by English, who scored five runs and drove in three. Atherton added two home runs and four RBIs, while Reichmuth had three hits and four RBIs.

Tomorrow afternoon with be the final chance to catch your Spire baseball team at home for the 2026 season as they take on the Baker University Wildcats in a double header. Game one will kick-off at 1:00 p.m. and will resume in the 4^th inning, where the two squads left off on April 1^st after a lightning delay suspended play, with game two to follow shortly after.