ALMA, Mich. - The Alma College baseball team split its doubleheader with the Calvin University Knights on Friday in the Scots' home opener at Klenk Park. Alma lost the first game, 4-1, and then came out victorious by a score of 14-10 in game two. These were first two conference games of the season for Alma as its record now reads at 6-7 overall and 1-1 in MIAA play. 

In the opener, Aaron Saenz pitched a complete game and struck out five batters. The Scots only run came off the bat of Joshua Robinson who launched a solo home run in the seventh inning. Robinson also had a triple earlier in the game. 

In the second game, Alma's bats came alive starting with Avery Carnicom hitting a solo blast in the first inning to tie the game at 1. After Calvin took a 4-1 lead in the second, Alma chipped away thanks to an RBI triple by Macguire Hawley and later an RBI triple by Robinson that tied the game at 4 in the third. The Scots and Knights each added on one more run to settle the score 5-5 heading to the bottom of the fifth. 

In the bottom of the fifth, Alma went on a tear, scoring eight runs in the inning. Alex Dwan, Jaret Koin, and Carnicom all hit 2-RBI doubles with Koin and Carnicom's coming with two outs. Alma had a commanding 13-5 lead after the end of the frame. 

Hawley hit a bomb in the sixth to make it 14-8. Calvin chipped away at the lead and even brought the tying run to the plate. However, Zach Schirmer came out of right field to get the final two outs of the game to earn the save. 

Jayden Drake earned the win by pitching five innings and striking out four batters. Carnicom went 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored. Koin, Schirmer, and Hawley all had mutliple hits and RBI. Hawley also led the team with three runs scored. 

The Scots and Knights will battle again on Saturday at Calvin's home field for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. 

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