ROSSVILLE, Ga. – The Alma College baseball team saw opening day action on February, 9th, as they traveled to northern Georgia for a weekend series against the Scots of Covenant College. Alma dropped the opening contest of the season in a tight game, 5-4, but bounced back and won game two, 10-6, to split day one of the season.
In game one, Alma and Covenant both took an inning for the offenses to warm up as Covenant would strike first in the second inning. With the bases loaded, the Scots of Covenant ended up hitting a sacrifice fly to left field allowing for the runner from third to score and put Alma down one early in their season. The Scots of Alma responded quickly in the top of the third with a single from Mitch Foley to put him on the base paths, which then led to him stealing second. Kyler Warren sent Foley to third on a single to second base, putting runners on the corners. Avery Carnicom picked up where he left off from last season recording his first RBI of the season on a single to left field and Foley crossed home, tying the game at one each side. Alma then took the lead in the top of the fifth inning as Dalton D'Alexander led the inning off with a deep shot over the center field wall, giving Alma a one run lead.
Covenant would retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single and RBI double to lead 3-2 over the maroon and cream. In the top of the following inning, Alma was able to add more runs onto the board as Freshman Charlie Martyn recorded his first hit with a single and Taha Ebrahim also singled. Both runners advanced forward a base on the next batter as Kevin Tuttle grounded out to third on a sacrifice hit. D'Alexander continued his solid showing at the dish with a double to right field, sending both runners across home plate and regaining the lead, 4-2. Covenant again responded with runs of their own in the bottom of the inning as they batted two runs in off a home run to put the score to 5-4. The Scots battled for the next couple innings leading into the ninth. In the ninth, the Scots found runners on base with Foley hitting a single and Tuttle drawing a walk. Covenant would ultimately turn a double play to end the game and have Alma turning their heads to rebuttal in game two.
D'Alexander led the Scots on offense with three RBI in the game, with Carnicom recording the other. Tyler Johnson and freshman Hayden Hileman saw action on the mound with each recording three strikeouts in the contest. Warren went 3-4 in the game as Alma connected for 14 hits in the game, four more than Covenant.
After a short break following the conclusion of the first game, game two was ready to get underway. The beginning of the second game started quietly as both pitchers were able to get the ball rolling on the mound and get out of any situations that came about. Covenant was able to break the ice in the third inning as a single and several walks were able to score and finish the inning leading Alma, 4-0. The Scots looked to respond swiftly as the top of the fourth, Alma put their first run on the board. After Tony Smith led off the inning with a walk and D'Alexander singled, and freshman Luke Lindsay also recorded a walk, the Scots loaded the bases with one out. Foley stepped up to the plate with bases loaded and hit a slow bouncer towards the shortstop that was able to advance everyone one base and put Alma down three.
After holding Covenant off the board in the bottom of the fourth, Alma's offense clicked in the fifth, starting with a solo shot over the right center wall by Carnicom, bring Alma within two. Following the home run, Cole Grunwald and Smith drew walks, before Tuttle singled towards the shortstop to load the bases once again. With no outs, Lindsay would reach first on a fielder's choice, but an error would then lead to Grunwald and Smith scoring and tying the game at four apiece. The Scots of blue and white didn't let Alma keep the game tied long as two home runs put Covenant back on top, 6-4, in the bottom of the sixth. Alma brought themselves back within one in the seventh as Tuttle led the inning off with a triple to right field and was then sent home during the next at bat as D'Alexander grounded out to short, but Tuttle crossed home plate. Alma regained the lead in the eighth inning as Carnciom singled and Brant Goodpaster pinch hit and reached on a fielder's choice that resulted in an error for Carnicom to reach second. Freshman Alexander Kavalick scored his first career RBI with a single to right field that allowed for Carnicom to cross home and tie the game. With runners on the corners, D'Alexander tallied another RBI for the day as he hit a sacrifice fly to right field and sent Goodpaster across the plate, putting Alma up 7-6. Just several batters later, Charlie Martyn collected his first collegiate RBI with a single to left center and Drew Hosterman scored from second, putting the Scots up two. To cap off the Scots comeback, in the top of the ninth, Foley led off the Scots by reaching first on an error. Carnicom then painted a pitch over the left field wall for his second home run of the game, this time a two-run shot, putting Alma up 10-6. Covenant would not add another run following the sixth inning, and Alma would split the day in the battle of the Scots.
Colin Czajkowski started the game on the bump for Alma before being relieved by Chase Balhoff, Alex Hardacre, Josh West and Warren. West was credited the win in his one inning of work with three strikeouts. Czajkowski tallied six strikeouts for the team high. The pitching staff recorded 16 total strikeouts in the game compared to Covenant's six. Carnicom led the Scots in game two with three RBI as D'Alexander followed behind with two of his own.
Alma will return to the field tomorrow to finish up the series with the Scots of Covenant College. First pitch is set for 9:00 AM, with the game set to decide the series.
