On a glorious, sunny 85 degree afternoon at Klenk Park, the Alma College baseball team hosted MIAA rival Abion College in the final home games of the 2013 season. The Scots prevailed by idential 8-7 scores in both of the highly competitive matchups. Alma is now 10-16 in the MIAA and 14-21 overall, while the Britons left town with a league mark of 10-16 in the league and 14-23 in 2013.

Wednesday was also Senior Day 2013 as the Scots baseball program honored five student athletes that played their last career home games this afternoon - IF Matthew Cresswell (St. Louis, Mich./St. Louis), IF Ryan Henris (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel Catholic), P Alex Ruhlman (Ira, Mich./Algonac), DH Cameron Schmidt (Port Austin, Mich./North Huron) and P Mitch Wilson (Rudyard, Mich./Rudyard).

In game one, the Britons scored a single run off of Alma Fr. starting P Matt Launstein (Flushing, Mich./Flushing) in the top of the first inning. However, the Scots responded in the bottom of the frame as a double and a walk set up the big blast of the game. Schmidt smashed a ball over the right field fence for a three-run homer that gave Alma the 3-1 lead.

The Scots made it 4-1 in the second as Cresswell singled and was knocked in by Jr. 1B Alex Kravat's (Auburn, Mich./Bay City Western) RBI triple. Both teams scored single runs in the third before Albion's two-run fourth cut the deficit to 5-4. The Scots responded with a run scored by Kravat on a ground out by So. LF Blake Leddy (Saginaw, Mich./Swan Valley).

After a scoreless fifth, the Britons tacked on a run to make it 6-5 before Alma responded with two of their own to bump it back to 8-5. Schmidt had an RBI double, while Leddy added a sacrifice fly for the Scots.

Albion made it interesting in the top of the seventh as they scored two runs and had a runner on base with two outs. So. P Eric Strickler (Lapeer, Mich./Lapeer East) was able to record a strikeout to end the game, earning is sixth save of the season. Launstein picked up his first collegiate win after throwing four innings and allowing four earned runs. Strickler gave up two earned runs in 1.1 innings pitched.

Kravat finished three for three with three runs and an RBI, while Schmidt was two for four with a run scored and four RBI's. In addition, Leddy finished one for three with two RBI's.

The nightcap saw Alma score six runs in the bottom of the second inning on three hits and two Albion miscues. The big hit of the frame came from So. 2B Jose Rosado (Corona, NY/Bryant), who hit a three-run homer that sailed along the left field line and over the fence. The Brits, showing their resolve, answered with three runs in the top of the third to make it a 6-3 game.

Henris led off the bottom of the third with a double and scored off of a RBI single by Fr. CF John Mireles (Lansing, Mich./East Lansing). The teams then played a scoreless fourth before getting on the board again in the fifth.

Albion made it 7-4 with a single run and Alma responded by plating a run of their own to increase the lead back to 8-4. The Scots run came off of a sacrifice fly by Rosado that had Mireles scamper across the plate.

The game was not over however, as Albion again did not go down without a fight. The Britons scored two runs in the sixth and a single tally in the seventh. With a 7-6 lead, Strickler was able to coax a flyout to center to preserve the one-run advantage and close out the win for his seventh save of the year.

Fr. P Philip Jock (Wales, Mich./Memphis) pitched six innings and gave up eight hits, five earned runs and six strikeouts to earn the win. Strickler pitched the final inning for Alma. Rosado led the team at the plate by going two for four with four RBI's.

Alma will conclude their 2013 season with a doubleheader at Albion on Friday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.