Luis Avila thrives in doubleheaders.
When the Dickinson State baseball team plays two games in a day, it typically means Avila will follow Dan Morari in the rotation and pitch the second game.
When he gets that opportunity, the junior takes time out of the first game to strategize with Blue Hawks catcher Paulo Contreras.
"We study the hitters for the second game," Avila said. "We know what they threw the first game. How they got out. What pitches we threw to them. What count they went to and what they hit - or how they got out - and then just take it into the second game."
The pre-game scouting has paid off.
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Avila is 5-1 and has a save in his only relief appearance.
He's second in the NAIA in opponent batting average (.145) and third in hits allowed per nine innings (4.5). His 1.28 earned-run average is second in the Dakota Athletic Conference and ninth in the nation.
"He brings a confidence level to our guys," DSU coach Duane Monlux said. "When they know he's throwing, they know he's going to throw strikes and he's going to keep us in every game."
Avila's only loss this season came against the University of Rio Grande at the Florida Jamboree at the beginning of the season.
It was a game no one on the team will forget.
The Blue Hawks lost 1-0 while facing All-American left-handed pitcher Nate Chau, who also batted in the game-winning run in the fourth inning.
Avila tossed eight strikeouts, walked none and gave up only six hits in the aluminum-bat game.
"It was pretty frustrating, because our hitters couldn't hit, and fun cause it was a pitchers dual," Avila said. "Those are the fun games. Those are pitcher battles which I like playing in."
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Contreras said Avila's intuition on the mound and ability to mix up pitches has given him an edge.
"He switches speed up pretty good. He'll throw a fastball and he'll throw a change up that's 10 miles an hour different than his fastball," Contreras said. "He's changing speeds the whole game. He mixes it up well. That's why he has so much success."
Avila has allowed just 21 hits and seven runs in 42 innings.
Monlux said Avila's ability to keep the score at a manageable level has helped with the introduction to wood bats.
"He keeps us close," Monlux said. "We know if we score one, two or three runs, we have a really good chance of winning the game."
