ALMA, Mich. – The Alma College baseball team wrapped up the three-game series with Trine University on Saturday, April 15th, at Klenk Park. The Scots were able to come away from the day with two wins, 10-0 and 8-4, to collect their second MIAA series sweep of the season.

In the bottom of the first in game one, Alma was able to draw two walks to put runners on the bases. Kyler Warren scored the game's first run with a single to left center that allowed Avery Carnicom to reach home from second. During the next at bat, both runners on first and second would advance forward a base on a wild pitch. Tony Smith scored the Scots next run on a sacrifice fly to center field as Cole Grunwald tagged up at third and made it the final 90 feet. Padyn Kesselring followed up behind Smith with a double down the right field line which scored Warren, leaving Kesselring alone on second. Cameron Bleasdale drew a walk as the next batter behind Kesselring which put runners on first and second with two outs. Dalton D'Alexander came up to the plate and capitalized by hitting the first homerun of the season at Klenk Park for a three-run shot over the left field wall. The Scots came out of the first inning with a 6-0 lead over the Thunder.

Alma tacked on some more runs in the seventh as Carnicom led the inning off with a hit by pitch and then reached second on a wild pitch. Grunwald added another RBI to his total with a double to left center as Carnicom scored from second. Grunwald advanced to third on a wild pitch during the next at bat and then home on a sacrifice fly by Warren pushing the Scots lead to 8-0. Alma would end the game in the eighth as the first two batters would be hit by a pitch and Kevin Tuttle sent both of them home with a double down the left field line, reaching the run rule and giving Alma the second game of the series. 

Tyler Johnson started and finished the game on the mound for Alma as he pitched eight complete innings while only allowing three hits and recording seven strikeouts.

In game two, the Thunder were able to get on the board first with a run in the top of the second to take an early 1-0 lead over Alma. Alma tied the game in the bottom of the second on a single by D'Alexander that allowed for Wyatt Nyswaner to score after reaching first by a walk earlier in the inning. 

The Thunder added two more runs and again took the lead in the top of the third but the Scots would not back down. Picking up in the bottom of the inning, Tuttle would draw a walk and Carnicom would be hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch in the next at bat before Grunwald singled to the shortstop and Tuttle was able to score. Warren then singled to second base right after and scored Carnicom to tie the game. Nyswaner during the next at bat grounded out to third but Grunwald raced for home for alma to regain the lead. Stephen McGlade then collected an extra base hit with a double down the left field line which ultimately score Warren. Keeping the extra abse hits going, Bleasdale sent a ball deep into center field and was able to make it to third which score McGlade and gave Alma a 6-3 lead in the third inning. 

Trine would tack on their final run of the game in the fourth brining the Thunder within two but Alma was not finished yet. Mitch Foley collected an RBI in the fifth on a single to left field, scoring Nyswaner who reached by an error to lead off the inning. Alma scored their last run of the game on a wild pitch as Warren tripled during the at bat before and then crossed home during the following at bat. 

Zac Olesuk started the game on the mound for Alma before Chase Balhoff came in for relief and was credited with the win moving him to 2-0. Ken Fistler also saw action on the mound as he recorded two strikeouts for the team-high.

Alma now has their eyes set for a weekend series with the Hornets from Kalamazoo College. The Scots will travel to Kalamazoo to play a single game on Friday, April 21st at 4:00 PM. The Scots will host the Hornets on Sunday, April 23rd for a doubleheader at Klenk Park. 

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Story Credit: Eli Pinter, Sports Information Intern