While the majority of their loved ones and friends remained huddled indoors in the mid-Michigan ice box, the Alma College softball team continued their spring trip in warm Florida where sunscreen and the head index were the main issues of the day.

On Tuesday, the Scots split a doubleheader with Hanover College (OH), winning the first game 12-8 and dropping the nightcap by a 4-2 margin. After the games, Alma stood at 3-3 on the young season and will have an off day from games on Wednesday before resuming play on Thursday.

Game 1

In a game that went back and forth from the beginning, Hanover jumped all over Alma starting Jr. P Cori Witham (North Muskegon/North Muskegon) and scored five rune (two earned) in the top of the first inning.

The Panthers added one run in the top of the second off of Jr. P Samantha Pierce (Clarklake/Michigan Center) before the Scots were able to get on the board. Trailing 6-0, Alma put one across the plate in the bottom of the second when Sr. 2B Chanler McCaskey (Morenci/Morenci) walked and ultimately scored on a RBI single by Jr. OF Brooke Hein (Grand Rapids/Northview).

The Scots exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the third to take an 8-6 lead. All seven runs were earned and six players garnered RBI's in the rally - Sr. 1B Christina Snoblen (Alma/Alma), Pierce, McCaskey, Jr. SS Devan Olah (White Lake/Lakeland), Sr. LG Allie Jo Nave (Onaway/Onaway) and two from So. C Kayla Merice (Dorr/Wayland).

The score remained that way until Alma added four insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The big hit of that frame was by So. PH Sarah Collier (Fenton/Fenton), who doubled in three runs to put the team ahead 11-6. The Scots added one more before heading into the seventh with a six-run advantage.

Hanover rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh off of Pierce but it was too little, too late and Alma walked off the field with the 12-8 victory. Pierce picked up the win in the circle by throwing 6.1 innings and allowing five hits with three runs allowed (one earned) and had one walk and two strikeouts.

Hein finished the game with three hits in four at bats, while McCaskey, Merice and Jr. 3B Lea Lusk (Columbiaville/Lakeville) each had two hits for the Scots. On a negative note, Alma committed seven errors in the field that contributed to five unearned runs scored by Hanover.

Game 2

The nightcap was a little more tight defensively and the runs were a bit more scarce as the Panthers scored two early and ultimately squeaked out a 4-2 triumph.

The bottom of the first saw Hanover score two unearned runs off Alma Jr. P Hannah Hybl (Central Lake/Charlevioux) for a 2-0 lead. Alma tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the third frame as Hein scored a run a sacrifice bunt attempt by Snoblen and Nave came across the plate on an error by the first baseman.

The Panthers scored single runs in the bottom of the third and fourth innings and carried that 4-2 advantage to the finish line to earn the win. All four runs were charged to Hybl (two earned) as she fell to 0-2 in the circle for the season. She pitched five innings and allowed eight hits with two walks and a strikeout. So. P Addie Loftus (Frankenmuth/Frankenmuth) pitched the final frame and had a one-two-three inning in her appearance.

The Scots mustered just six hits and were led by Fr. 2B Anna Couture (Posen/Posen), who had two of them. Witham, Olah, Fr. DH Kelsey Spencer (Eaton Rapids/Eaton Rapids) and Jr. PH Marie Zill (Chelsea/Chelsea) had one a piece.