The Alma Softball team completed a two-game sweep of Hope College on Saturday afternoon, when the they defeated the Flying Dutch by a score of 9-1, in the nightcap of a doubleheader at Scots Park. The Scots improved to 3-1 in MIAA action and 13-8 overall, while Hope fell to 1-3 in league play and 7-13 overall in 2009.
The Scots, the visiting team in the second game, scored two runs in each of the first two innings, to stake claim to a 4-0 advantage before Hope even had a chance to bat twice. So. CF Kelly Koenigsknecht (Fowler, MI/Fowler) led off the top of the first and was sacrificed bunted to second by Jr. LF Kelsey Rightenburg (Lexington, MI/Croswell-Lexington).
Sr. 3B Brittany Fales (Midland, MI/Midland Dow) singled in Koenigsknecht for a 1-0 Alma lead, while Fales went to second on the throw home. After Jr. 2B Kasey Miller (Grand Ledge, MI/Grand Ledge) fouled out to right field, Fales advanced to third base. Jr. RF Sarah Johnson (Portland, MI/Portland) singled through the left side, scoring Fales for a run batted in.
Alma scored two more runs in the top of the second to take a 4-0 lead, but Hope bounced back to score a run in the bottom of the third inning to cut the Scots' lead to 4-1. However, this was a sweep that was not to be denied for the Alma women, as they put the game away with five runs in the top of the fourth frame.
After Fr. 1B Emily Ross (Buchanan, MI/Buchanan) and Koenigsknecht singled, Rightenburg sacrificed them to third and second base respectively. Fales connected on a base hit that scored both Ross and Koenigsknecht for two RBI's and a 6-1 advantage. Miller then doubled to right center, scoring Fales, who had advanced to second on an earlier throw, and Alma was up 7-1.
Johnson followed with a double to right center that scored Miller and gave the Scots an 8-1 lead, and she scored on a single by Sr. C Trista Geier (Livonia, MI/Walled Lake Western) for the final 9-1 margin. So. P Brittany Grys threw all five innings for the Scots and picked up the win, as she gave up six hits and no earned runs, with three strikeouts on the day.
