KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Alma College baseball team returned to action after almost a week without games. The Scots took on the Hornets of Kalamazoo College to continue along in MIAA play. Alma was defeated during the Friday matchup by a final score of 8-3 to the current MIAA baseball first-place Hornets.

Alma kicked off the scoring in the top of the first, starting with the first at bat by Kevin Tuttle drawing a walk. Avery Carnicom would single following the walk, advancing Tuttle to second. Cole Grunwald then singled through the left side which loaded the bases for Alma with no outs. Wyatt Nyswaner ended up reaching first during the next at bat by a fielder's choice as Tuttle was thrown out at home, holding Alma off the board and getting the first out. Kyler Warren came to the plate and sent a ball into center field that would be caught for a sacrifice fly as Carnicom would tag up and race towards home to score the first run of the game. In the bottom of the first, Kalamazoo found themselves in a prime place to score with the bases loaded, but starting pitcher Cam Jones would escape the inning with no damage done.

In the bottom of the second, the Hornets would break through as they scored six runs to overtake the lead from the Scots, with still a lot of game to play. Kalamazoo ended up tacking on another run in the fourth and fifth innings to increase their lead to 8-1. The Scots would battle throughout the game trying to make a comeback but were held off the board until the eighth. Carnicom drew a walk to start off the inning for the Scots as Grunwald was due behind him. Grunwald took a pitch to deep left field and over the wall for a two-run shot to bring the Scots within five, but were held off the board for the rest of the game. Alma would drop the first of three meetings against the Hornets this weekend, in a matchup that is the 1-seed versus the 2-seed in the current MIAA standings.

Blake Stone collected two strikeouts on the mound for the game as Josh West and Jones each recorded one for Alma. 

Both teams will see one another again this Sunday, April 23rd, at Klenk Park in Alma, Michigan, for a doubleheader. The first pitch of game one is set to begin at 1:00 PM with the second game to begin around 4:00 PM.

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Story Credit: Eli Pinter, Sports Information Intern