ALMA, Mich. - For the first time in Alma College history, two softball pitchers have thrown no-hitters on the same day as senior aces Leigh Ann LaFave and Melissa Tavidian combined to showcase Alma softball Tuesday (Apr. 26) at Scots Park.
Alma College softball witnessed its first perfect game since March 31, 2003, as LaFave (Bark River/Escanaba) [pictured top left] faced the minimum 15 batters, striking out 12 as the Scots picked up an 8-0 victory in the first of a doubleheader against Kalamazoo College. LaFave was the last Alma pitcher to record a perfect game when she accomplished the feat in 2003 against Kalamazoo. It is the second no-hitter of the season for the senior as she shut out St. John Fisher Mar. 2, 2005, striking out nine in seven innings of work. It also marks the fourth no-hitter of her career and her second perfect game as a Scot.
In game two, Tavidian (New Hudson/South Lyon) [pictured bottom left] nearly matched the feat as she threw a no-hitter, striking out 10 and allowing a base-runner only on a fielding error at third base. It is the third shutout of Tavidian's career as she posted two no-hitters in the 2003 season.
With the wins, the Scots improve to 23-7 on the year with an 11-1 mark in MIAA action.
Offensively for Alma in game one, freshman Missy Morcom (Chelsea) went 2-for-3 with one run and an RBI while Anne Westerman (Gaylord/St. Mary Cathedral) went 1-for-3, scoring twice and knocking in a run.
The game opened with a one-run first inning and the Scots waited until the third inning to post seven additional runs. The game ended after five innings with the Scots leading, 8-0.
In game two, the Scots continued the barrage, putting up another seven-run inning to lead off the game. Anne Westerman led off the game with a base on balls and moved to second on a Megan Knochel (Pinconning) sacrifice bunt. A passed ball moved the speedster to third base before she stole home to open the gates. Laura Bell (Walled Lake/Walled Lake Western) followed with a solo homer before Shannon Harrington (Dewitt/St. Johns) singled, Amy Gaudard (Mt. Pleasant) tripled and Eileen Butler (Vestaburg) and Mary Pietsch (Rogers City) singled before scoring to give the Scots a convincing early advantage.
Five more runs in the second, three in the third and four in the fourth gave the Maroon and Cream the distinct 19-0 advantage to close the game after five innings. The remaining scoring was highlighted by a Liana Easterby (Troy) home run in the fourth, knocking in Emily Blahnik (Corunna), who got on with a long double into center field.
The Scots return to action Thursday (Apr. 28) when they travel to Tri-State for a doubleheader. Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
