Alma, Mich. - The Alma College softball team swept Ohio Wesleyan in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. Mary Brooks (Portland, Mich. / Portland) and Madyson Piche (Sault Saint Marie, Mich. / Sault Area) each hit home runs for the Scots.

Alma (14-5) took game one 3-1 and scored all of its runs in the final two innings. Game two was a 13-7 win that saw the Scots overcome a three-run deficit with back-to-back five-run innings.

Brooks pitched all 14 innings on the day, earning both wins. In game one, she allowed one run on six hits and three strikeouts. The Bishops got 13 hits off Brooks in game two, but only scored seven runs, five of which were earned.

How It Happened

Game 1

• OWU scored its only run in the bottom of the second when Erica Buchanan doubled home Alexia Smith, who walked.
• Alma had runners on second and third with one out in the third inning but grounded and flied out. It loaded the bases with one out in the fourth but again failed to score after two fielder's choices, one at home and one at third.
• The Scots finally broke through in the sixth inning when Riley Terwilliger (Mount Pleasant, Mich. / Sacred Heart Academy) doubled and Piche singled her home to tie the game.
• Brooks broke the tie with her fifth home run of the year in the seventh inning after McKenzie Creed (Edwardsburg, Mich. / Edwardsburg) singled with two outs. She closed out the game on the mound with two groundouts and a line out.

Game 2

• Alma scored the game's first run in the top of the first when Kaylee Martin (North Branch, Mich. / North Branch) singled home Cassidy Tucker (Coleman, Mich. / Coleman), who reached on an error.
• Brooks was shaky to start the second game after facing 31 batters earlier in the day. She gave up six runs on seven hits in the first two innings, but settled in and allowed just four total hits in four of the last five innings.
• While Brooks got comfortable on the mound, Alma's bats went to work. Piche homered to lead off the second inning and Martin hit another RBI single to score Creed from second.
• In the fourth and down 6-3, Tucker doubled to left-center field to score Katie Long (Grand Rapids, Mich. / West Catholic) and Piche. Creed plated Tucker after a Chelsea Schweiger (St. Clair, Mich. / St. Clair) single and steal on a fielder's choice to tie the game at six. Brooks doubled home both Schweiger and Creed with a double to right-center field but was thrown out at third base.
• Alma scored another five runs in the fifth starting with a triple from Tucker down the left field line that brought in Bry Chapman (Holt, Mich. / Holt) and Piche. After Schweiger walked and stole second, Creed singled to right field to score Tucker and Brooks doubled down the right-field line to score Schweiger. Creed scored on a groundout by Terwilliger for Alma's 13th run of the game.

Notables

• In game one, Mary Brooks hit her third home run in her last two games. Her slugging percentage on the year is .806, sixth in the MIAA. In her last five games, Brooks is 9-for-20 with three home runs. She is also 3-1 in four appearances.
• Madyson Piche is eight for her last 15 with two doubles and a home run dating back to game two against Thomas More on March 18.
• Cassidy Tucker went 3-for-9 with a double and a triple, four RBI, and three runs scored.
• Five Scots had RBIs on the day; five had at least one.
• This is the first time in Brooks' career she has started both games of a doubleheader in three career starts. Katie McClure has yet to do so in 53 career starts.
• Alma hit 6-for-9 with runners in scoring position and less than two outs and 9-for-22 with two outs on the day.
• The Scots left a combined 16 runners on base against the Bishops. Ohio Wesleyan left 17.

What's Next

Alma hosts Trine University on Wednesday, March 29, in the start of conference play. The Thunder are 17-3 and boast four of the best hitters in the MIAA. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 3:30 p.m.

Contact: Zach Russo, Assistant Sports Information Director