ALMA, Mich. - Alma College softball continued its strength in MIAA play with doubleheader victories against Olivet College today (Mar. 31). The Scots took game one 4-0 and the second game 6-2 to improve to 14-4 on the season and 4-0 in MIAA action.
The first game saw the Scots generate four runs on four hits. Those four hits came from three different players as Amy Gaudard (Mt. Pleasant) hit a single up the middle in the bottom of the first with two outs before Megan Colligan (Northville/Novi) stepped in and knocked one over the left field fence to give the Scots a two-run advantage before Laura Bell (Walled Lake/Western) flied out to left to end the inning.
The Scots would shut out the Comets and then in the bottom of the fifth inning, Emily Blahnik (Corunna) took first on an error and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Audra Reynolds (Six Lakes/Montabella). Missy Morcom (Chelsea) then hit her fifth home run of the year to score two more runs for the Maroon and Cream.
Pitcher Katie Koechling (Wheaton, Ill./North) went seven innings, allowing just two hits and striking out 12 - a season-high. It marks the third complete game shutout of the season for the freshman.
In game two Olivet would strike first with a run in the bottom of the first. Alma played solid defensively and took over in the top of the fifth when Taylor Erwin (Fenton) led off, taking first with a hit-by-pitch. Sarah Seals (Alma) moved Erwin to second with a sacrifice bunt before Blahnik singled to right, scoring Erwin. Angie Asam (Rogers City) entered to pinch run for Blahnik and moved to second when Morcom was issued a walk. A Sarah Tipton (Perrysburg, Ohio) double to left field plated Asam before Amy Gaudard (Mt. Pleasant) stepped in and knocked the long ball - her first of the season - scoring three runs for the Scots with two outs. Megan Colligan would ground out to second to end the inning with the Scots holding a 5-1 advantage.
The Comets tacked on another in the bottom of the fifth but could not generate the offense in the final innings. Gaudard stepped in with one out in the top of the seventh and homered again to give the Scots the final 6-2 advantage.
For the game, Alma generated 6 runs on seven hits. Alyssa Gooch (Charlotte) started for the Scots, working four innnings striking out three and allowing two runs on four hits. Kay McDonald (Rosebush/Mt. Pleasant) came in and threw three innings, striking out five and walking three while allowing just one hit.
Alma returns to action Saturday (Apr. 1) when it travels to Defiance for a doubleheader.
