KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Alma College baseball traveled to Kalamazoo to continue play in the MIAA Tournament. The Scots took on Kalamazoo College, who was the winner of the other first round game between the Hornets and Hope College. The Scots came back from an early deficit and held on for a victory over the top-seeded Hornets by a final score of 6-5. The Scots now patiently await until Friday for the championship game.

The Hornets came out of the gates running as their bats scored four runs in the first inning, putting the Scots in a hole early. Alma found their first answer in the bottom of the second as Ethan Krafft reached first on an error. Cameron Bleasdale sent Krafft on the move with a double down the right field line, giving Krafft enough time to score and put Alma on the board, still trailing 4-1.

Kalamazoo added another run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth inning to take a four-run lead again. Alma found their offense in the bottom of the fifth, starting with Bleasdale reaching first on an error. Dalton D'Alexander sent Bleasdale home with a double into right center, putting the Scots within three again. Mitch Foley followed behind with a single that sent D'Alexander 180 feet to third base. Kevin Tuttle would score D'Alexander with a sacrifice fly to right field as Foley stayed put. Avery Carnicom found a pitch that he sent up the middle for a single as Foley used his speed to reach third. Cole Grunwald looked to make his job easier on the mound as he singled through the left side and sent Carnicom to second and Foley across homeplate, bringing the Scots within one run. The Scots would take the lead after a Kyler Warren single up the middle where he would advance to second on a throwing error, Carnicom scored from second during the play and Grunwald advanced to third and then turned from third and scored on the error. 

Alma left the bottom of the fifth with a 6-5 lead but the game was not over just yet. Both teams had chances in the last several innings to either retake the lead or increase it but both were held off the scoreboard. In the ninth, the Hornets loaded the bases with one out as Warren came to the mound to pitch. Warren got his first batter to pop out to shortstop for a crucial out. With the game on their bat, the Hornets hit a roller down the first base line that Carnicom scooped up and touched the bag to close out the game and send the Scots to the championship game without a loss in the double-elimination tournament.

Grunwald was named the started for the Scots on the mound as he pitched five innings. Grunwald recorded a game-high six strikeouts as Blake Stone came in for relief and recorded one. Warren's two outs in the ninth inning were enough to credit him with his first career save as he finished the game with three Hornets stranded on the bases. 

The Scots will now have the rest of the day to rest and prepare for the championship game that is to be played on Friday, May 12th, against the Adrian College Bulldogs. First pitch for the game is now set for 10:00 AM due to incoming weather.

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Story Credit: Eli Pinter, Sports Information Intern