On Thursday afternoon, the Alma College Softball team escaped frigid Mid-Michigan for the warmer climate of Indiana and took on Manchester College in a non-league doubleheader. The Scots took game one by a score of 3-2 in what proved to be a nailbiter at the end, while game two went to the visitors 12-0 in five innings.

With the wins, Alma improved to 21-13 on the season, while the Spartans fell to 13-14 overall in 2015.

Game One: Alma 3, Manchester 2

After a scoreless first inning, Alma led of the top of the second frame with a walk to Fr. RF Mary Brooks (Portland/Portland) and a bunt single by So. 2B Anna Couture (Posen/Posen). That was followed by a three-run homerun by Jr. 1B Sarah Collier (Fenton/Fenton) that put the visitors up by three.

The Scots had another scoring threat in the top of the fourth when they recorded two hits. However, a two-out fly ball ended the chance and it remained a 3-0 contest.

In the circle, Alma So. P Morgan Stratton (Grand Blanc/Grand Blanc) cruised along through six innings against the Spartans. However, needing just three outs to finish the game, Stratton ran into some problems.

She struck out the first Manchester batter in the frame but then a hit batter and a walk put two runners on base. Stratton then struck out the next batter for the second out but a single then loaded the bases.

At that point, the Spartans got a clutch single up the middle to center that scored two runs and made it a 3-2 ballgame. However, Stratton has been resilient all season long and today was no different as she struck out the next batter to preserve the victory.

Stratton threw the entire seven innings and allowed three hits, two earned runs with three walks and 13 strikeouts. Collier went two for three at the plate and five other Scots recorded singles in the win.

Game Two: Alma 12, Manchester 0 (5 Innings)

The nightcap was a much more relaxing affair for the visitors from Michigan. The Scots scored three in the first, three in the third and six in the fourth while keeping Manchester from crossing the plate, resulting in the 12-run, five inning victory.

With one out in the first, Jr. C Kayla Merice (Dorr/Wayland) and Sr. SS Devan Olah (White Lake/Lakeland) singled to start a rally. The big blow then came from Sr. 3B Lea Lusk (Columbiaville/Lakeville), who hit a three-run homer to left field.

Alma put two runners on base in the top of the second, but could not add to their lead. Fr. P Katie McClure (Manchester/Manchester) pitched the first two innings of the game and kept the Spartans off the board, giving up no hits and having one walk and one strikeout.

Then, in the top of the third, Brooks singled with one out and So. PR Kelsey Spencer (Eaton Rapids/Eaton Rapids) ran for her. Collier reached on an error from the center fielder and McClure followed with a bunt single that scored a run. Then, with two outs, Sr. LF Brooke Hein (Grand Rapids/Northview) delivered a clutch two-run single that put the Scots up 6-0.

After Alma Sr. P Samantha Pierce (Clarklake/Michigan Center) pitched a scoreless third inning, the Scots put the game away in the fourth. The visitors exploded for six runs on six hits and took advantage of one Manchester error.

Merice and Olah singled to open the frame and moved to second and third on a ground out. Brooks then reached on an error and one run crossed the plate. Collier and Pierce followed with singles that scored one run a piece to make it a 9-0 game. Following the second out, Hein again delivered a big blow, doubling to right field and knocking in two more runs. Couture closed out the scoring with a single that sent Hein home for a 12-0 advantage.

Then, after a leadoff single by the Spartans, Pierce closed the door on the home team and ended the game after five innings. By throwing three innings, Pierce earned the win in the circle and improved to 4-2 on the season. She allowed one hit and had one strikeout.

Brooks, Hein, Merice and Olah all went two for three in the nightcap, while Merice scored two runs and Hein had four RBI's in the victory. As a team, the Scots pounded out 14 total hits. The most encouraging part of the sweep was the fact that the defense did not commit a single error in the field, a very good sign heading into the postseason.

The Scots close out the MIAA schedule on Saturday with two games at Albion and then finish the regular season at Scots Park with a DH against Ohio Northern University.