Angola, Ind. - In a battle between two of the leaders in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the Alma College baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader on Monday (April 11) afternoon at Trine University. The Scots lost by a 4-3 margin in the first game before succumbing to a seven-run rally by the Thunder in game 2 to fall, 7-6. Alma is now 16-5 overall with a 7-3 record in the MIAA, while Trine improved to 12-8 overall and 8-2 in the conference.

Game 1 - at Trine 4, Alma 3

The Scots had their seven-game winning streak snapped with a 4-3 loss to the Thunder in the opening game of the doubleheader. Junior Adam Thoryk (Syracuse, N.Y./John C. Birdlebough/St. John Fisher) went 2-for-3 while junior Alex Peczynski (Farmington Hills, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) hit a 2-RBI triple as Alma registered six hits.

Senior Phil Jock (Memphis, Mich./Memphis) started for Alma on the mound, pitching for 5.1 innings and recording six strikeouts.

Trine took a 2-0 lead in the first inning before the Scots tied the game in the top of the third. Senior Dayne San Miguel (Wheeler, Mich./Breckenridge/Kellogg CC) opened the frame with a single, then was sent home when Peczynski grounded out to the second baseman. Senior David Carles (Staten Island, N.Y./Petrides/College of Staten Island) got on base with a single to left field and advanced after junior Greg Goffee (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) connected for a hit. Carles and Goffee got into scoring position on a wild pitch before Carles scored on a passed ball to tie the game.

The Thunder responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to regain the lead at 4-2. Alma added a run in the top of the fifth to pull within one when Peczynski hit a triple to center field that scored San Miguel. Trine kept the Alma bats silent from that point on, allowing only one hit in the Scots' final nine at-bats.

Game 2 - at Trine 7, Alma 6

The Scots built up a six-run lead after the top of the six inning, but a furious rally by Trine resulted in seven straight runs by the Thunder, including a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to secure the sweep.

Four Alma players tallied multiple hits in the game, including Doug Walters (Brighton, Mich./Brighton), who was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Sophomore Nick Swanson (West Bloomfield, Mich./Notre Dame Prep) also went 2-for-3 with a double and a pair of RBIs.

Alma struck first, scoring four times in the top of the third inning. After sophomore Matthew Minaudo (Clinton Township, Mich./De La Salle Collegiate) walked and Walters singled, Thoryk connected on a single to center field, sending Minaudo home. Walters scored on the next at bat when senior Yoan De La Rosa (Bronx, N.Y./Morris/Monroe College) singled up the middle, then Swanson hit a 2-RBI double to score De La Rosa and Thoryk.

The Scots added to their lead in the top of the sixth when Walters hit a two-RBI single, scoring Minaudo and Goffee to give Alma a 6-0 advantage. Goffee reached base on an error, while Minaudo hit a single to left field to get on base.

Trine added a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth and another run in the bottom of the seventh to close the gap, then tied the game in the bottom of the eighth with another pair of scores. In the bottom of the ninth, the Thunder loaded the bases with one out before Robert Ross hit a single up the middle to send home the winning run.

Junior Alex Valasek (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel Catholic Central) pitched 6.1 innings for the Scots, striking out five. Sophomore Eric Frontzak (Naperville, Ill./Montini Catholic) took the loss after facing six batters in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Scots will close out the series with the Thunder on Tuesday, April 12, with a doubleheader at Klenk Park. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Alma is a perfect 6-0 at home this season.