Winter Haven, FL – Alma College Softball kicked off their season in sunny Winter Haven, Florida at the Spring Games on Sunday. Alma battled to a low scoring 1-0 win in 8 innings over MSOE in their first game of the day, and fell to Cabrini in game two by a final of 7-2.

Alma 1, MSOE 0

The first game of the day saw Alma battle out a win in 8 innings. The teams managed 8 total hits in a contest that was excellent in terms of pitching and defense. Both teams struggled to find traction offensively, and with just 2 errors total the defenses weren't forgiving in any way.

Taylor Griffith was the hero, going 2-4 on the day and knocking across Alma's lone run in the contest. She was joined by Jenna Holzinger (1-3), Jessica Eva (1-3), and Aynslee Koutz (1-2) in the offensive efforts. The Scots did not draw any walks in the game.

Defensively, the Scots played an excellent game. The team committed just one error, and Danielle Little pitched a near perfect game to open her season. She went the full 8 innings to get the win, allowing just 3 hits, and striking out 8 with one walk allowed.

Cabrini 8, Alma 3

The second game of the day saw the Scots take on Cabrini. Cabrini got on the scoreboard first, with a 3 run homer in the top of the first inning. The Scots responded with 2 runs of their own in the bottom of the opening frame. Danielle Dumoulin hit a sac fly, which scored Emma Fraser from third, and allowed Taylor Griffith to scamper to third base. Just one batter later, Morgan Brandau singled to center field, scoring Griffith, and bringing the score to 3-2. The Scots would scratch across another run in the third inning when Danielle Dumoulin scampered home on a Cabrini throwing error.

This was the closest that the Scots would get, as Cabrini pulled away in the middle innings to take the win 8-3.

After a slower offensive start to the day, Alma picked it up at the plate. The Scots managed 8 hits while striking out just 4 times in the game. Brandau led the charge for Alma, going 2-3 with an RBI on the day. Scoring the other run for the Scots was Dumoulin with a sac fly. Jessica Eva had a solid second contest as well, posting a 2-2 effort.

Megan Krueger got the start, picking up the loss, and moving to 0-1 on the season. She gave up 7 runs (5 earned) 6 hits, and walked 3 while striking out 2 over 4 innings of work. She was relieved by Mikaylyn Kenney. She worked through 3 innings, striking out 5 while walking just 1 and llowing only a single hit and a single run.

Alma will look to bounce back tomorrow with games against Bridgewater and Chatham.

Story Credit: Nick Nemeth, Sports Information Director