SHREVEPORT, La. – The Alma College baseball team played their last games of their trips down south on Saturday, March 4th. Alma came away from game one of the doubleheader with a 6-5 win which clinched the season series with Centenary. The Scots were defeated in game two by a final score of 11-2.

Alma was able to strike first in the opening game of the doubleheader. Cameron Bleasdale and Avery Carnicom both reached base on singles. Cole Grunwald then sent Bleasdale home and Carnicom to third on a single to left center putting Alma on the board. Kyler Warren then recorded an RBI single when he sent a ball down the right field line and Carnicom crossed homeplate. Alma would head into the bottom of the inning with a 2-0 lead.

After the Scots held the Gents off the board in the first, they looked to keep their offense rolling and add more to their lead. Dalton D'Alexander was able to draw a walk and then steal second during the next at-bat to put the Scots into scoring position. Kevin Tuttle singled through the left side and D'Alexander rounded third to add another run for Alma. Bleasdale would follow behind with a single and Tuttle would reach second during the play. Carnicom added to his long list of career doubles with another one which was able to score Tuttle and give Alma a 4-0 lead. Centenary would answer back in the bottom of the second and score one run to cut into the Alma lead. 

After the Gents added an additional run in the fourth, Alma wanted to find a way to increase their lead again. The answer came from a two-run Carnicom home run over the left field wall to put Alma back up by four runs. Carnicom's home run in the fifth inning gave him sole possession of first place in career home runs at Alma College with 22. The 34-year-old record by Mark Gilling was a feat not many could surpass, but Carnicom batted his way past it the past three years.

The Gents were able to score two runs in the seventh to tighten the game and one run in the eighth to bring them within one, but Alma would hold Centenary off and win their third straight game and the past two over the Gents.

Tyler Johnson got the start on the mound for the first game and was able to strikeout five in his seven innings pitched. The five K's were a game-high and added on to his already impressive start to his season on the bump. Chase Balhoff came in to close the game for the Scots and recorded his second save of the season. 

After the record-breaking first game, Alma looked to leave Louisiana with a sweep over Centenary College, but were stopped in their tracks early. The Gents were able to score six runs in the first and an additional five in the second inning to take an early over the Scots. Alma would then hold Centenary scoreless the rest of the game but would only respond with their own runs in the seventh, Padyn Kesselring reached first on a walk and Wyatt Nyswaner followed behind with a single to put Alma baserunners on first and second. Tuttle was then able to draw a walk and load the bases for a Bleasdale at-bat. Bleasdale took advantage of the situation and was able to single into center field which allowed for two runs to score. Alma would ultimately be held to two runs for the rest of the game but would win the three-game series 2-1.

Ken Fistler came in as a reliever for the second game and tied for a game-high three strikeouts with Zac Olesuk and Bleasdale each adding one more to the team total.

The Scots will now return home to the cold before traveling to Indiana next week to take on Rose-Hulman for a three-game series. The Saturday, March 11th doubleheader will begin at 12:00 PM with the second game following shortly after.

Stay up to date with the latest news, schedules, scores, recaps and more by downloading the official mobile app for Alma College Athletics. Search "Alma Scots Front Row" in the Apple App Store or on Google Play and download today for free.

Story Credit: Eli Pinter, Sports Information Intern