The Scots' Softball team ran into an Albion College hitting buzzsaw in the second game of a doubleheader on Thursday. Alma ended up splitting the first MIAA DH of the 2009 season, by a score of 16-10. Alma is now 11-8 (1-1, MIAA) on the year, while the Britons improved to 8-8 (1-1) for the season.
Albion, determined to avenge a first-game loss, jumped on Alma So. P Brittany Grys (Portland, MI/Portland) in the first half- inning of the game. The Britons scored four runs off of Grys, with no outs and Fr. P Erin Pintek (Flushing, MI/Flushing) came in for her. Albion scored three more times in the inning for a 7-0 advantage.
After the Britons added a run in the second, the Scots' bats found some life and responded with four runs in the bottom of the third inning. After So. CF Kelly Koenigsknecht (Fowler, MI/Fowler) walked, Jr. LF Kelsey Rightenburg (Lexington, MI/Croswell-Lexington) singled for runners at first and second. The next batter, Sr. 3B Brittany Fales (Midland, MI/Midland Dow) doubled in both runners. Fales scored on a hit by Jr. SS Houston Verbeck (Burton, MI/Flint-Kearsley). Jr. RF Sarah Johnson (Portland, MI/Portland), who had singled ahead of Verbeck, scored on a ground-out by Sr. C Trista Geier (Livonia, MI/Walled Lake Western).
Albion responded quickly, as they scored three runs on five hits and an error in the top of the fourth, to take an 11-4 lead. Alma made it interesting though, as the Scots scored a run in the bottom half of the fourth frame, and then added three more runs in the back half of the fifth inning, cutting Albion's lead to 11-8.
With Fales up to bat in the fourth, Fr. DH Emily Ross (Buchanan, MI/Buchanan) scored on a wild pitch. In the next inning, Jr. 2B Casey Miller (Grand Ledge, MI/Grand Ledge) walked and ended up scoring on an Albion error. After a walk by Geier, Fr. C Becca DeWyse (Bay City, MI/Bay City All Saints) hit her first career home-run, a two-run shot that trimmed the Brits' lead to three.
After a scoreless sixth inning, Albion put the game away with five runs in the top of the seventh inning, as they pounded out six hits and were aided by one Alma error, as they took a commanding 16-8 lead.
The Scots scored two more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, as DeWyse connected on a two-run homer after Sr. C Sarah Seals (Alma, MI/Alma) had singled in her at bat. Unfortunately, it was not enough, and Alma fell to Albion in the nighcap by a score of 16-10.
Alma will host Hope College on Saturday afternoon at Scots Park, as the MIAA season continues. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
