By Harrison LaLone, Sports Information Student Assistant

Auburndale, Fla - The Alma College Baseball team returned to the diamond on Wednesday (Mar. 1) after a much-needed day off to face Indiana's Hanover College.

For the first time since arriving in Florida, the Scots found a way to score efficiently and quickly. Freshman utility man Jaret Koin (Sterling, Mich. / Standish-Sterling Central) led the game off with a first-pitch shot to center field, and was immediately brought home by Junior Matthew Minaudo (Clinton Township, Mich. / De La Salle Collegiate). Both Koin and Minaudo would appear at the plate twice in the eight-run inning, earning an RBI each time.

Freshman Dylan Dzendzel (Royal Oak, Mich. / Royal Oak) started at pitcher and got the Scots going defensively from the mound early on in the game. In Dzendzel's first three innings, he allowed only one hit and sent four batters back to the dugout on strikes.

The fourth inning proved to be the turning point in the day.

Hanover entered the fourth inning down 8-0, but had not allowed a runner to pass first base since the Scots' rally back in the first. In similar style to Alma's first inning rally, Hanover put up eight runs themselves, tying the game and forcing Head Coach Jake Sabol to go to the pen.

The remainder of the game became a pitcher's duel between Hanover's Senior Cody Reister and Alma's Junior Garrett Miller (Lapeer, Mich. / Lapeer West / Mott C.C.). The Panthers would score once in the seventh and once in the eight to take game by a score of 10-8.

The Scots did not go down without a fight, however. Junior Nick Swanson (West Bloomfield, Mich. / Notre Dame Prep) led the bottom of the ninth inning off with a double to center field. After a handful of at bats, the bases were loaded with two outs when freshman Vann Acker (Eaton Rapids, Mich. / Eaton Rapids) stepped up to the plate. Acker sent the ball high in the air in center field, but just a few yards short of the fence, where the ball would be caught to end the game.

The Scots will head back to the diamond to face Concordia College (MN) at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 2nd.