April 26, 2008

The Alma College Softball Team (23-9. 13-2) needed to get two wins over Hope College (23-12, 9-7) and some help from Saint Mary's over Tri-State to put them in the driver seat to host the MIAA Tournament and got both as they defeated the Dutch 4-0 and 5-4 and the Belles pulled off the split against the Thunder.

It was all Alma in game one as they got the complete game shutout from freshman pitcher Tara Leddy (Saginaw/Swan Valley) while scoring four runs to take the comfortable win. Leddy scattered nine hits while striking out four on her way to improving to 11-5 on the year.

All four of the Maroon and Cream's runs came on three swings as Houston Verbeck (Flint/Kearsley) knocked in three runs with two homers and Brittany Fales (Midland/Dow) added a solo shot of her own. 

Game two was a much more back and forth game with the Scots putting up a four run fifth inning to put them far enough ahead to take the 5-4 win.

Katie Koechling (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) got her 11th win of the year as she held the Dutch to three runs on nine hits in five innings. Leddy came in to close out the game and gave up one run on her way to her second save of the season.

Verbeck continued her outstanding day, added two more hits, and three more RBI's to finish with a four hit and six RBI double header.

With the pair of wins today and Tri-State dropping one to Saint Mary's, if Alma can defeat Olivet College tomorrow in the single rescheduled game set for 2:00 p.m., they will bring home the regular season MIAA Championship and will host the MIAA Tournament.