ALMA, Mich. – The Alma College baseball team played their first doubleheader at Klenk Park against the Hope Flying Dutchmen on April 2. Alma split the conference doubleheader losing 13-10 in the first game and winning 8-6 in eight innings for the second game. The second game was called early due to weather. 

Both teams started the day in the first game scoreless until the top of third inning when Hope scored a run to take a 1-0 lead. Alma responded in the bottom of the third with two walks from Kevin Tuttle (Woodhaven, Mich.) and Joshua Robinson (Dewitt, Mich.). Avery Carnicom then singled, and Tuttle scored from second to tie the game. Mac Hawley (Brooklyn, Mich.) was hit by a pitch two batters later to load the bases for the Scots. Jacob Cornman doubled to center field and all three baserunners crossed home, giving Alma a 4-1 lead. 

Hope added 12 unanswered runs from the seventh through the top of the ninth to take a 13-4 lead.  Alma would be held off the board until the bottom of the ninth, where they would attempt a comeback to steal the game from the Flying Dutchmen. Leading off for the Scots in the ninth, Ian Hart (Brighton, Mich.) drew a walk and took first base. Dalton D' Alexander (Canton, Mich.) singled to right field and put runners on first and second. Following behind, Tuttle doubled to left field and both runners scored to cut the lead to 13-6. Robinson followed behind Tuttle, and he also doubled to center, which would score Tuttle. With Robinson on second, Carnicom singled to left field and Robinson scored, making the score 13-8. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Nolan Chillcut (Woodhaven, Mich.) reached first on an error, which scored one run, cutting the deficit to four. Next batter, Hart singled scoring another run and putting the Scots down three. Alma's comeback would fall short after a ground out to third, and the Scots would drop game one.  

Tyler Johnson (Lexington, Mich.) pitched six and one-third innings and recorded six strikeouts for Alma.  

After a brief intermission, Alma looked to revenge the first game loss and split the day with the Flying Dutchmen. Hope looked to hold the Scots back after a four-run first inning and a scoreless start by Alma. In the bottom of the second, Stephen McGlade (Pinckney, Mich.) drew a walk and would advance to second on a wild pitch. Later in the inning, with McGlade on second, Padyn Kesselring (Mountain View, Calif.) singled to center field and McGlade rounded third to score a run for the Scots. Hope added two more runs in the top of the sixth to take a 6-1 lead.  

What started as a cool sunny day in Alma turned to overcast and snowy within hours. Alma took advantage of the conditions and in the bottom of the seventh, look to make another comeback on the day. With snow falling and wet conditions looming, Kesselring started the inning with a walk for Alma. Tuttle singled to left field to place runners on first and second. A groundout pushed both runners forward into scoring positions. Carnicom singled to left field and both runners scored cutting the lead to 6-3. With snow falling and the baseballs becoming slippery, Carnicom would advance to second on a wild pitch. Hawley would be hit by another pitch and both runners would advance on another wild pitch. McGlade took four balls and was walked but Carnicom would score on the fourth ball as it got behind the catcher. Wyatt Nyswaner batting next would draw a walk to load the bases. All runners moved forward on another wild pitch, adding another run for the Scots, making the score 6-5. With runners on second and third, Chillcut tripled to right field and both runners crossed home, giving Alma their first lead of the game, 7-6. Chillcut would score on a wild pitch, making the score 8-6, in wet and cold conditions. Alma would fly out to end the inning and after some discussions between the umpires and coaches, the game was called, and Alma was credited with the win.  

Alma is now 1-1 in MIAA Conference play. The Scots will take on Calvin University on Tuesday, April 5. Opening pitch is at 4:00 p.m. at Klenk Park.  

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