By Harrison LaLone, Sports Information student assistant

Auburndale, Fla. - The Alma College baseball team returned to the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex Thursday (Mar. 1) for a matchup with Capital University (OH). The Scots improved to an overall record of 3-1 with a 2-1 victory over the Crusaders.

Junior Joseph Barrons (Kingston, Mich./Kingston/St. Clair County C.C.) threw a complete game from the hill and struck out five in his first start as a Scot.

Senior Matt Minaudo (Clinton Township, Mich./De La Salle Collegiate) supplied the runs with a two-run home run to left field, his third of the season.

What Happened

• Barrons' complete game came from an efficient day in the strike zone as he threw 32 strikes in his first 40 pitches, and maintained a pace of over 70 percent for the remainder of the game. Capital's one run was scored in the third inning, one of only two frames where the Crusaders had more than one hit.
• Minaudo's homer came in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, junior Jordan Anstandig (West Bloomfield, Mich./Walled Lake Northern/Saginaw Valley State University) singled on a bunt down the third-base line. Then, as the strong headwind from centerfield slowed briefly, Minaudo smashed his third home run of the season, making the score the eventual final of 2-1.
• The Scots had one more quality scoring opportunity in the fourth stanza, but could not capitalize. Sophomore Vann Acker (Eaton Rapids, Mich./Eaton Rapids) doubled down the leftfield line, then proceeded to third on a passed ball in the next at bat. Sophomore Josh Riggs (Irons, Mich./Brethren) attempted a sacrifice fly ball to left to score Acker, but the wind kept the ball just close enough to keep Acker from getting to the plate safely.

Notables

• This is the first complete game thrown by a Scot since Mike Mallory '17, now an assistant coach for the program, threw nine innings on Senior Day (May 6) last season.
• Matt Minaudo has now hit a team-leading three home runs in 2018 and has reclaimed the team lead in RBIs with seven.
• Vann Acker has recorded one extra-base hit in each of the first four games: two doubles and two home runs.
• Both Acker and sophomore Max Trucks (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant/Davenport University) carry on-base percentages of .500 or higher into the final game of the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.

Up Next

The Scots return to the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex for their final game in Florida, taking on Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (IN) on Friday (Mar. 2). First pitch is scheduled for 9 a.m.