ALMA, Mich. – The Alma College baseball team continued along in conference play as the Scots found themselves battling the current MIAA leader, Kalamazoo College. The Scots ended up splitting the doubleheader on Sunday, April 23rd, winning the first game 3-2, and losing the second, 12-4.

In the first game of the day, Kalamazoo would strike first and score the first run of the game in the top of the second inning. Alma was the responder in the bottom of the same inning as Kyler Warren led off the inning with a single up the middle, followed by a Cameron Bleasdale single to center field. Batting in the cleanup spot, Mitch Foley singled to center field as Warren turned third and headed home to tie the game at ones, scoring Alma's first of the game.

The Scots added to their lead in the fourth inning as Stephen McGlade put Alma on base with a single to left field. Bleasdale would send McGlade to second as he was able to reach first on an error by the second baseman. Dalton D'Alexander was able to place a pitch in left field for a single which sent McGlade home giving Alma their first lead of the game, 2-1. The Scots loaded the bases during the next at bat as Foley took a pitch to the body, awarding him first base. Kevin Tuttle scored another run with a single just over the shortstop which pushed Alma's lead to 3-1. 

Kalamazoo would struggle pulling within one of the Scots as both teams were held off the board until the ninth inning with the pitchers the pace of the game. The Hornets found themselves in the ninth trailing by two, looking for a late push. Following a leadoff triple, the Hornets were able to drive in a run with one out, looking to send the game to extras. Starting pitcher Tyler Johnson would get the next batter to flyout to center field and retire the last batter of the game to hold on and take down the Hornets of Kalamazoo, who only had one MIAA loss prior to the first game today. 

Johnson pitched his third-straight complete game as he recorded 12 strikeouts, while only allowing five total hits and one walk in the game one action. 

Game two started shortly after the finish of the first game on a cold and windy day at Klenk Park, with both teams winning a game in the series looking to take the final game and series. Kalamazoo jumped out to the lead first as they put the first run of the game on the board in the third to take a 1-0 lead. In the fourth, the Hornets added another 5 runs to push the lead to six as they added on an additional run in the fifth to take a 7-0 lead before Alma got the bats going. In the bottom of the fifth, Ethan Krafft reached first on an error to put Alma on the bags early. Preston Schroyer sent a ball into deep left center which allowed for Krafft to use his speed to score from first, making the score 7-1. 

The Hornets scored another run in the seventh to increase the lead back to seven before the Scots responded in the bottom of the inning. Krafft was able to reach first by an error for the second time in as many at bats before D'Alexander would place a pitch near the left field foul line that allowed for Krafft to reach third as D'Alexander reached second, putting the Scots in scoring position. Foley would score both runs on a single that found right center field, putting Alma down, 8-3.

Alma added their final run of game two in the bottom of the eighth as Jacob Cornman singled into right field. Taha Ebrahim would pinch run for Cornman and quickly be sent running around third as the next batter, Padyn Kesselring sent a ball into deep right center at the wall for a triple which scored Ebrahim, putting the Scots within four. Alma would be held off the board the rest of the game as the Hornets tacked on another four runs in the top of the ninth to put the game away, taking the final game of the series. 

Zac Olesuk started game two on the mound for the Scots as seven pitchers in total were used in the latter game. Chase Balhoff came in to close the game and recorded two strikeouts to lead the pitching staff for the game.

Alma will now turn their attention to a Tuesday night matchup against Division I opponent Eastern Michigan University at Comerica Park in Downtown Detroit. The Scots will look to avenge their 5-1 loss from the year prior at Comerica against the Eagles. Tickets are still available for purchase through the tickets link on the baseball schedule. First pitch is set for 6:30 PM.

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Story Credit: Eli Pinter, Sports Information Intern