KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Alma College baseball competed in the championship games of the MIAA tournament on Friday, May 12th. The Scots dropped the first game of the day 20-6, pushing the championship to a winner take all game in the afternoon. The Scots took an early lead but the Bulldogs momentum pushed them over the final nine innings to take the final game over the Scots, 7-2. 

In game one, the Bulldogs took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. In the top of the second Alma got the offense rolling beginning with a Kyler Warren single where he advanced to second on an error. Warren advanced to third on a dropped third strike, placing himself 90 feet away. Cameron Bleasdale and Dalton D'Alexander both drew walks to load the bases. Mitch Foley ended up wearing a pitch that ended up scoring Warren, putting alma on the board. Kevin Tuttle then also drew a walk that again scored Bleasdale which tied the game at twos. Alma tagged on another run with Avery Carnicom reaching first on an error and Dalton D'Alexander scored during the play giving Alma a lead, 3-2. 

The Bulldogs retook the lead in the bottom of the third scoring six runs. The Scots cut into the Bulldogs lead with a Carnicom sacrifice fly to center field which allowed for Foley to cross home adding another run for Alma. Adrian continued the offense in the fourth and sixth with five total runs to extend their lead to 13-4. Alma was able to tag on two more runs in the top of the seventh as Warren scored on a wild pitch and Kesselring scored during the next at bat as Ethan Krafft grounded out. Alma would be held off the scoreboard after their sixth run of the game as Adrian would add on seven more runs to finish the game with a 20-6 score. 

Cam Jones started on the mound for the Scots, pitching 2.1 innings and recording two strikeouts. Colin Danek and Jacob Wanous each recorded a strikeout as well in the outing. 

Later in the afternoon, in a winner take all championship game final, the Scots scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the third. Foley reached first on a single up the middle and was advanced to second with a Tuttle walk. Carnicom would send Foley across homeplate on a single to left field, giving alma the first lead of the game. The Bulldogs would score a run in the top of the fourth and another three in the top of the fifth to take their first lead at 4-1.

In the bottom if the fifth, Carnicom and Cole Grunwald both singled towards center field to put Alma runners on first and second with Warren stepping in the batter's box. Warren then singled through the right side advancing Grunwald to third and scoring Carnicom cutting into the Adrian lead. It would not be enough though as the Bulldogs added two runs in the eighth and a run in the ninth as the Scots were held scoreless after the fifth and Adrian College would run the table and win the MIAA Tournament.

Davin Reif started the final game on the mound and recorded a strikeout in four innings of work. Tyler Johnson saw action as a reliever and also recorded a strikeout for Alma on the day. 

Alma's season will end with the loss in the championship game as they finished the season with a 22-21-1, along with breaking many records throughout the season. The Scots will graduate three as the rest will return for action in the spring of 2024.

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Story Credit: Eli Pinter, Assistant Sports Information Director