On Monday afternoon, the Scots Baseball team traveled to Grand Rapids to take on Calvin College in a MIAA doubleheader. Calvin came away with wins in both games - 4-3 in the first and 13-5 in the nightcap. After today's contests, Alma has a 6-11 league mark and are 10-16 in 2013, while the Knights are now 11-8 in the MIAA and 12-17 overall.

In the first game, the Scots started quickly as Fr. CF John Mireles (Lansing, Mich./East Lansing) led the game off with a double. He moved to third on a strikeout throw from catcher to first. The next batter, So. RF Jose Velez (Tampa, Fla./S. Ft. Myers) grounded out to second, scoring Mireles for a 1-0 Alma lead.

With two outs in the top of the third, Mireles struck out but reached second on a wild pitch. Jr. 1B Alex Kravat (Auburn, Mich./Bay City Western) reached on an error by the shortstop, moving Mireles to third. On the next at bat, Kravat broke for second and got into a rundown while Mireles stole home for a 2-0 Scots advantage.

The Knights answered in the bottom of the third frame by scoring three runs to take the 3-2 lead off Alma starting Jr. P Kevin Thompson (Petoskey, Mich./Petoskey). Calvin took advantage of three walks and had two hits in the rally.

The score remained that way until Alma's half of the fifth inning. Fr. DH Doug Walters (Brighton, Mich./Brighton) doubled with one out and was pinch run for by So. Adam Ballien (St. Charles, Mich./St. Charles), who then advanced to third on an error by the shortstop.

The Scots then tied the game at 3-3 when Sr. 3B Matthew Cresswell (St. Lous, Mich./St. Louis) flew out to right field.  

In the bottom of the seventh, Calvin led off with a walk and a bunt single against Alma Fr. P Matt Launstein (Flushing, Mich./Flushing). So. P Eric Strickler (Lapeer, Mich./Lapeer East) entered the game in relief and was greeted with a sacrifice bunt that advanced the runners.

Stricker then walked the next batter intentionally to load the bases and set up the force out at every base. Calvin's next batter, Ben Cok then singled through the left side to knock in the winning run, as Calvin earned the 4-3 win.

Thompson went 4.1 innings and gave up four hits and three earned runs with three walks and two strikeouts. Launstein went 1.2 with one hit and one earned run in taking the loss.

The second game on the day belonged to Calvin from the beginning as they scored eight runs in the first three innings to cruise to the 13-5 win.

Alma actually opened the scoring in the top of the first when Mireles led off the game with a single and Kravat followed by being hit by the pitch. After a strikeout, the runners advanced a base on a ground out, bringing So. 2B Jose Rosado (Corona, N.Y./Bryant) to plate. He then hit a grounder that the shortstop could not handle and Mireles sprinted home for a 1-0 lead.

Calvin tied the game at 1-1 after their leadoff hitter singled and proceeded to steal his way all around the bases. The floodgates opened for the Knights in the bottom of the second as they scored five runs off Scots starting Fr. P Colin Nash (Brighton, Mich./Brighton) to take a commanding 6-1 advantage. In the frame, the home team had five hits and were helped by two Alma miscues in the field.

The Knights made it 8-1 in the bottom of the third with runs on four hits. Alma scored three in their half of the fifth to cut it to 8-4 as Velez had a big two-RBI double and a bases loaded walk by Sr. PH Cameron Schmidt (Port Austin, Mich./North Huron). Calvin scored three of their own in the bottom of the inning off of Alma Jr. P Dan Johnson (Central Lake, Mich./Mancelona) to make it 11-4.

Calvin increased their lead to 13-4 in the bottom of the sixth with two runs off of Alma So. P Kyle Gorski (W. Bloomfield, Mich./Orchard Lake St. Mary's). The Scots finished the game's scoring in the top of the seventh when Fr. C A.J. Acton (Temecula, Mich./Linfield Christian) singled in Schmidt who had been hit by a pitch.

The Scots next play tomorrow when they host Kalamazoo College at Klenk Park. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.