Auburndale, Fla. - The Alma College baseball team opened the 2016 season with a doubleheader against Mount Union (Ohio) at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. The Scots split their games with the Purple Raiders, dropping the opening contest, 5-0, before rallying for a 4-3 victory in game 2.

GAME 1 - Mount Union 5, Alma 0

The Scots gave up five runs on 10 hits as Mount Union scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the third and fifth innings, then added another run in the bottom of the sixth, to secure the win. Alma was held to a pair of hits as Purple Raiders pitcher Phil Mary fanned 12 batters en route to a complete game.

Alma mounted some offense in the sixth inning when senior David Carles (Staten Island, N.Y./Petrides/College of Staten Island) singled to put a pair of runners on base with two outs, but could not convert. In the final inning, senior Yoan De La Rosa (Bronx, N.Y./Morris/Monroe College) singled to open the frame and advanced to third base after a wild pitch and a groundout by senior Doug Walters (Brighton, Mich./Brighton), but was left stranded.

Senior Phil Jock (Memphis, Mich./Memphis) struck out five in four innings of action, while junior Mike Mallory (Ithaca, Mich./Ithaca) struck out two batters in two innings of relief.

GAME 2 - Alma 4, Mount Union 3

Alma took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning after sophomore Matthew Minaudo (Clinton Township, Mich./De La Salle Collegiate) and Carles both singled, then Minaudo found his way home after an error by Mount Union's Mike Martin. Carles scored on the next play after a sacrifice fly by De La Rosa before the Purple Raiders were able to close the inning with two straight outs.

After Mount Union tied the game in the top of the fourth inning before the Scots regained the lead in the bottom half of the fourth when junior Alex Peczynski (Farmington Hills, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) scored. The run was set up after Peczynski was walked to open the inning, then after junior Jerome Jackson (Harper Woods, Mich./Harper Woods) doubled to send him to third base, junior Adam Thoryk (Syracuse, N.Y./John C. Birdlebough/St. John Fisher) sent him home on a sacrifice fly to center field.

The Scots built a two-run advantage in the bottom of the sixth inning when Peczynski scored again, on a Minaudo RBI single, then stood tall defensively in the top of the seventh to limit the Purple Raiders to one run. Mount Union put its first two batters on base then scored on the next at-bat, leaving runners on first and second with no outs. Alma got the first two outs, then after the Raiders were able to load the bases, forced the final out to get its first win of the year.

Junior Alex Valasek (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel Catholic Central) went the distance to get the win, striking out five batters with only two walks.

Alma will continue play in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational on Wednesday, March 2, when it faces Wartburg (Iowa) College at 11:00 a.m., followed by a 2:30 p.m. matchup with Cleary (Mich.).

QUOTES

Head Coach Jake Sabol

"I thought we were a little anxious offensively in game one. Their guy was really good. He kept us off balance and really controlled the plate. Phil Jock I thought did a nice job. He kept us in the ball game and gave us a chance to win which is what you ask for out of your starting pitchers."

"Alex Valasek really came through for us in the second game. We finally got going a little bit offensively in game two and we were able to do a nice job putting pressure on their defense. Alex battled through a tough bases loaded, no outs jam in the 7th, but did a nice job limiting the damage and getting us the victory."

"Matt Minaudo was a nice surprise today. He has really been making strides over the last few weeks and he did a quality job today putting together a few good at bats and had a timely hit late for us. Pat Finn was also a difference maker for us in game 2, found a way to get on base multiple times and was a spark plug for our offense when we needed it."