Clermont, Fla. - The Alma College softball team kept the ball rolling today as they downed two more teams at The Spring Games. In an eight inning ball game Alma brought down Mount Union 4-3 and followed up a 4-0 beat down against Cabrini College this afternoon.

At the conclusion of the day the Scots are now on a four game win streak and stand at 4-2 this 2016 season. 

Game One

The University of Mount Union jumped out to an early lead in game one of the day as they served as the home team batting second after three quick outs for Alma in the top of the first. Alma recorded an error to let Mount Union's Brittany Bait get to first. Junior Morgan Stratton (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) notched her first strike out but another single and an advance on a fielder's choice but Mount Union runners on second and third. The Raider's Andi Vansickle knocked a home run to score all runners and put Mount Union up early 3-0 after just one inning.

Those were the only runs Alma would allow as they answered quickly in the top of the second with two runs of their own. Senior Kassidi Adams (Montrose, Mich./Montrose) led off and reached first on an error. Freshman McKenzie Creed (Edwardsburg, Mich./Edwardsburg) followed up with her first double of the season to advance Adams to third. It did not stop there as sophomore Lauren Sabuda (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Sacred Heart Academy) knocked a single to score the two runners to cut the Raider's lead 3-2.

Alma's defense was relentless and they knotted the game in the top of the fifth inning 3-3 after miraculous running by pinch runner sophomore Erin Lee (Commerce, Mich./Walled Lake Northern) and solid base running by sophomore Mary Brooks (Portland, Mich./Portland) who earned the RBI off of Lee's run. 

Alma continued to hold Mount Union scoreless to force the game in to extra innings. All it took was one inning for the Scots as senior Kayla Merice (Dorr, Mich./Wayland) was placed on second due to extra innings rule. Junior Kelsey Spencer (Eaton Rapids, Mich./Eaton Rapids) posted a sacrifice hit to move Merice to third and junior Sarah Collier (Fenton, Mich./Fenton) finished it off to score Merice to give Alma their 4-3 lead. Two more consecutive outs retired the inning but three consecutive outs in the bottom of the eighth for Mount Union sealed the deal for the Scots as they won the first game of the day 4-3.

Junior Morgan Stratton (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) was in the circle for the Scots giving up no earned runs and recording a season high eight strike outs in today's win. Stratton is now 2-1 this season. 

Creed led the squad in the first game going two for three and Sabuda backed it up with team high two RBI's in today's first win.

Game Two

Alma did not stop after the first game as they shut out Cabrini College in the second game and went home with the 4-0 win. 

The Scots served as the home team again in game two and the game remained knotted until the bottom of the third when Alma put two runs on the board. Junior Anna Couture (Posen, Mich./Posen) hit a single while Merice followed up with a single to put runners on first and second. Brooks hit a sacrifice to move the runners to second and third and Collier recorded her second squeeze of the day to score Couture. Junior Danielle Service (Mason, Mich./Mason) followed up with a single to score pinch runner, freshman Katie Long (Grand Rapids, Mich./West Catholic) to give Alma the 2-0 lead.

With sophomore Katie McClure (Manchester, Mich./Manchester) in the circle and solid defense the Scots kept Cabrini scoreless and Alma nothced two more runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Merice hit a double and Brooks followed with an RBI double of her own scoring Merice. Collier hit another sacrifice to move pinch runner Spencer to scoring position on third. Service finished it off with another RBI single to score Spencer to give Alma the 4-0 lead.

Neither team would score in the final two innings and Alma earned their second win of the day, 4-0 against Cabrini College.

McClure had a good outing in the second game as she allowed no runs and recorded a season high of six strike outs.

Alma will finally have a day off to enjoy their time around Clermont after having six back to back games in three days. The Scots will however pick back up action on Thursday (Mar. 3) to take on John Carroll again at 11:00 a.m. followed by a match up against the University of Mary at 1:00 p.m. 

Quote

Head Coach Denny Griffin

on today's wins...

"The team put together three good games today including the JV game. It starts in the middle of the diamond and both Morgan Stratton and Katie McClure did not give up an earned run. The defense was solid and the new infield is beginning to gel. It is fun the see the framework of the team taking shape. We executed the short game all day and had some timely hitting. I also like how the team has bounced back after the first day."