The Alma College Softball team continued play in Florida on Monday, facing off against Capital University (OH) and Hanover College (OH) on the National Training Center Field #4 in beautiful Clermont. 

The Scots earned a split on the day, defeating Capital 3-0, before dropping a 4-2 decision in their rematch with Hanover. At the conclusion of today's contests, Alma heads in to Tuesday with a 2-2 record.

Game One

Riding their momentum from yesterday's 9-1 victory, the Scots came out swinging against Capital on Monday. Sr. 3B Lea Lusk (Columbiaville/Lakeville) smacked a double and stretched it to third on the throw to give Alma a runner in scoring position with one out in the first inning.

So. SS Danielle Service (Mason/Mason) followed with a double to left field to score Lusk from third to put the Scots up 1-0. Sr. OF Cori Witham (North Muskegon/North Muskegon) ended the scoring with a single to left field to score Service and after one half inning, Alma was up 2-0.

Following two strikeouts in the first inning, Fr. RHP Katie McClure (Manchester/Manchester) followed up by striking out three-straight batters in the second, to keep Alma up 2-0.

In the third, 2014 MIAA Offensive MVP Sr. SS Devan Olah (White Lake/Lakeland) would connect on her third double in two days to put Alma back in scoring position with no outs. Fr CF Erin Lee (Commerce / Walled Lake Northern) would pinch run for Olah and advance to third thanks to a shot to left field by Lusk. Service would lay down the sacrifice bunt to score Lee from third and put Alma up 3-0 after three.

Capital would have its best opportunity to score in the bottom of the third, advancing a runner to third on a groundout. McClure would stay in control however, forcing the next batter to pop out to get the Scots out of the inning unblemished.

The young freshman would keep Alma on top for the rest of the game, striking out five more - including three in the seventh - to seal the 3-0 Scots victory in game one.

Lusk went three-for-four from the plate with one run, while Service knocked in a team-high two RBI.

In circle, McClure improved to 1-0 on the year after allowing only three hits while fanning 10 batters in her collegiate debut.

Game Two

The Scots would face off against Hanover College in game two, a team Alma beat convincingly in six innings, 9-1, yesterday. 

Still mourning the loss the day before, the Panthers came out swinging on Monday afternoon. With the bases loaded, Tori Luster smacked an inside-the-park homer to clear the bases and put the Panthers up 4-0 early.

In the bottom of the inning, So. IF Anna Couture (Posen/Posen) singled and stole second to give Alma one on with one out. With two outs, Jr. 1B Sarah Collier (Fenton/Fenton) would connect on a single to left to score Couture and bring the Scots within three at 4-1.

Alma managed to put a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the second, but Merice would be mowed down from right field off a pop up.

The Scots would be unable to mount much offense in the next few innings before finally putting another run up on the board in the seventh.

Jr. C Kayla Merice (Dorr/Wayland) led off the seventh with a double and would be pinch ran for by Sr. OF Brooke Hein (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Northview). Following a groundout, Hein would score on the next play off a pass ball to bring Alma within two, 4-2, with one out. The Scots would be unable to put any more runs up and fall in the rematch to Hanover 4-2.

Collier notched the lone RBI for Alma against the Panthers, going one-for-three from the plate.

In the circle, Sr. RHP Samantha Pierce (Clarklake/Michigan Center) got saddled with the loss after giving up four runs (all earned) on eight hits.

The Scots return to action tomorrow, taking on Lyndon State College (VT) at 9:00 a.m. before facing off against Hanover for the third time at 1:00 p.m.