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Box Score 2 Holland, MI – Alma College Softball was on the road on Saturday to take on Hope College in a crucial MIAA twinbill. Alma picked up a massively important sweep of the Flying Dutch, winning 2-0, 2-1.
Alma 2, Hope 0
Game one saw lockdown pitching, and hits were rather difficult to come by. Alma scored in the opening frame, with an RBI double from Emma Fraser that scored Taylor Griffith. Alma's lead held at the slimmest of margins all the way into the 6th inning. The Scots had Aynslee Koutz on the basepaths, and a sac fly from Danielle Dumoulin brought her home to double the lead to 2-0. That was all the Scots would need, with Morgan Westall shutting down the Hope bats to close out the W.
Emma Fraser (1-3, RBI) and Danielle Dumoulin (0-2, RBI) were the scorers for Alma.
Morgan Westall (W, 5-4) pitched a stellar 7.0 innings to earn the complete game shutout. She allowed 5 hits, and struck out 4 while walking 3.
Alma 2, Hope 1
Game two was a much similar story to game one. It was a pitching duel, with the Scots managing to scrape across one more run than the Flying Dutch. Once again Alma scored in the 1st inning, when Danielle Dumoulin hit a grounder to shortstop. The Flying Dutch opted to take the force out at first base, and Aynslee Koutz was able to scamper home from third on the play. The Scots padded that lead thanks to a Hope error that saw Avery Vos score on the play. The hosts had one look at tying the game after a 2 out, RBI single in the 7th, but Mikaylyn Kenney slammed the door shut to seal the 2-1 victory.
Both of the RBI scorers for Alma (Dumoulin, Amelia Price) didn't record a hit in the ballgame. Emma Fraser (1-2, BB) was the leader at the plate in game two.
Mikaylyn Kenney (W, 5-4) pitched all 7.0 innings for Alma. She allowed 11 hits, but struck out 8 while walking just 1.
It's a crucial sweep for the Scots, who were voted to be battling Hope College for 3rd place in the MIAA preseason coaches' poll. Alma now moves into a tie for third place with Adrian at 4-2 in MIAA play. The Scots will host the conference leaders in Trine on Sunday. First pitch is set for 2 PM.
Story: Nick Nemeth, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
