FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Alma College baseball team got back on the road and traveled to North Carolina on Thursday, February 16th, for a matchup against Methodist University at Armstrong-Shelley Field. Alma was defeated in both games by the Monarchs, 10-3 and 14-5.

In the first game of the evening, Alma started sluggish and found themselves down early after allowing four runs in the second inning. Methodist tacked on four more in the third to put Alma down 8-0 and having to claw their way back into the game. The Scots found some light in the fourth when Avery Carnicom continued his early season dominance in the batter's box and hit a solo shot to center field to put the Scots on the board.

Two innings later, Carnicom found himself back at the plate and again hit a deep ball over the centerfield wall for his first multi-homerun game of his career. Two batters later, Sheldon Huff also connected with a pitch to send it over the right field wall and put some life back into the Scots. The Monarchs would keep Alma off the board the rest of the game and Alma would drop the first of the night by a final of 10-3.

Alma bounced back from the first game quickly as they were the first on the board in the second game. Picking up in the second inning, Kyler Warren reached first on a throwing error which led to Stephen McGlade doubling to right center to put runners on second and third. Wyatt Nyswaner would sacrifice fly out to right field which allowed for Warren to score, putting Alma on the board. Cole Grunwald then singled and McGlade crossed home adding another tally for the Scots. Later in the inning, Cameron Bleasdale singled up the middle and Grunwald scored giving the Scots a 3-0 lead.

Methodist responded with six total runs in the second and third innings to regain the lead from the Scots. Alma quickly responded in the fourth when Bleasdale singled with the bases loaded and sent Nolan Chilcutt over homeplate to bring Alma within two. Huff then also singled up the middle and Kevin Tuttle would score putting the Scots down one.

Alma would be held scoreless the rest of the contest as the Monarchs added eight more runs and would ultimately defeat the Scots 14-8. 

Chase Balhoff recorded four strikeouts for the first game in his three innings that he came in as a reliever. Jacob Wanous recorded three strikeouts to tie for the game-high in the second game as a starter.

Alma will have another chance to get in the win column for the trip as they face off against Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday, February 18th, after a day off. The Scots will begin action on Saturday at 5:30 PM.

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Story Credit: Eli Pinter, Sports Information Intern