The Alma College Softball team was back at it Sunday afternoon at Scots Park as they greeted the Belles from Saint Mary's College in a conference doubleheader. The Scots split with the Belles, losing game one 7-5 and taking the victory 5-2 in game two.

At the end of the afternoon, Alma's record moved to 19-11 on the season and 10-2 in the conference. Saint Mary's is now 18-8 on the season and 5-3 in the league.

Game One: Saint Mary's 7, Alma 5

So. P Morgan Stratton (Grand Blanc/Grand Blanc) was dominant in the first inning, striking out two. However, an error by Alma would help Saint Mary's cross the plate taking the 1-0 lead in their half of the first.

The Scots were unable to put any runs on the board in the first, but Stratton kept on dealing, striking out two more in the second to keep the score 1-0. 

Alma answered with two runs in the bottom of the second. Lead off batter, Jr. IF Sarah Collier (Fenton/Fenton) got on base with an infield single. So. Jade Garcia (Kentwood/East Kentwood) singled down the left field line. A Saint Mary's error scored an Alma runner followed by a wild pitch putting two runs on the board.

Three errors by Alma in the top of the third gave Saint Mary's the opportunity to put five runs on the board, making the score 6-2. 

The score remained the same until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Alma was able to notch another run on the board. Sr. OF Marie Zill (Chelsea/Chelsea) got on base first with a single up the middle. So. IF Danielle Service (Mason/Mason) entered the game with a right center single off the first pitch advancing the runner. Zill crossed the plate due to a sacrifice fly to center field from Jr. IF Kayla Merice (Dorr/Wayland). A groundout ended the inning, but not before Alma had cut the Saint Mary's lead 6-3.

Alma retired all three Saint Mary's batters in the top of the sixth inning. As Alma got their turn in the bottom half of the sixth, on two hits Alma was able to notch another run. With one out, Garcia reached on a single up the middle followed by a stolen base. Fr. OF Mary Brooks (Portland/Portland) came in as a pinch hitter and gained an RBI single to left field scoring Garcia. As the sixth came to an end, the score was cut to 6-4 going into the final inning. 

Saint Mary's increased their lead for the last time in the top of the seventh inning, as they had one more runner cross the plate and making the score 7-4.

Alma had one last attempt in the bottom of the seventh inning and it looked positive when lead off batter Zill hit a single followed by another single from Service.  A double from Sr. IF Lea Lusk (Columbiaville/Lakeville) scored a runner, but that was the only run the Scots were able to muster before ending the inning and the game with a final score of 7-5. 

Stratton pitched a complete game, but received the loss moving her record to 10-4. She allowed six hits on seven runs with only one of those runs being earned and striking out nine.

Total of four RBI's were awarded for the Scots evenly across the board as Merice, Lusk, Couture, and Brooks all had one RBI apiece.

Game Two: Alma 5, Saint Mary's 2

In the nightcap, the first two full innings of play went without a hit. Fr. Katie McClure (Manchester/Manchester) was in the circle for the Scots as she earned two strikeouts through the first two frames.

Alma would be the first to cross the plate in game two in the top of the third inning. After a groundout, Zill tallied another single up the middle. A Saint Mary's error put two on base in scoring position. Lusk with the RBI single gave Alma the 1-0 lead but they would leave two runners stranded on base to end the inning. 

In the top of the fourth, two more runs were scored as small ball bunting moved the runners around the field. An RBI single from Zill scored one runner. Then there was one out and the bases were loaded after Merice battled in her at bat, walking and advancing the runners. Sr. IF Devan Olah (White Lake/Lakeland) scored the last runner with an RBI single. A double play ended the inning for the Scots, but not before they increased their lead 3-0.

Saint Mary's couldn't answer in the bottom of the fourth as they left one runner on base.

After a pop up, two walks followed by a single from Brooks loaded the bases in the top of the fifth. McClure blasted a two RBI double to left field scoring the two runners, strengthening the Alma lead to 5-0. A strike out and fly out would bring the inning to a close. 

Alma stranded one Saint Mary's runner on base after they received their first hit of game two keeping the Belles scoreless 5-0 after five.

Three walks and an Alma error in the bottom of the sixth gave Saint Mary's a light at the end of the tunnel, as they had two runners cross the plate for the first time of game, two cutting Alma's lead to 5-2. 

The Scots looked to increase the lead in the top of the seventh but were unable to capitalize as the first three batters were retired. Then, Stratton entered the game in the bottom of the seventh and recorded her second save of the season, as she struck out one and coereced two batters into pop up outs. 

McClure earned the win increasing her season record to 4-4 as she pitched 6.0 innings giving up two runs on one hit as she struck out three. In addition, McClure led the team in RBI's with two, while Zill went two for three with one RBI. 

Alma travels to Trine University on Tuesday, April 21, as they continue conference play. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.