ALMA, Mich. – The Alma College baseball team returned to the field after a four-day hiatus for final exams on Friday, April 19th, hosting The University of Olivet. The Scots opened the series at Klenk Park falling to the Comets by a final score of 9-6.
The Comets opened the scoring in the first inning with an RBI single following a double to put their first run on the board. The bottom of the inning saw the same type of action from the Scots as Kevin Tuttle led the Scots off with a double to left field. Tuttle advanced to third on a wild pitch and would score on a sacrifice fly out from Avery Carnicom to center field, tying the game at one each side.
The next three innings, the pitchers stole the spotlight striking out batters and keeping base hits to a minimum heading into the fifth. The top of the fifth saw Olivet break their hitting slump and drive in five runs on doubles and singles into the outfield. The Comets took a 6-1 lead until the Scots answered back in the bottom of the seventh. Two walks started the inning off for the Scots at the plate as Colin Czajkowski would connect with a pitch through the short stop to load the bases. Kyler Warren then pumped a two RBI single into center field, scoring Tuttle and Carnicom, and bringing the Scots deficit down to three. A pitching change paused the Alma run scoring for a short period of time, but as play resumed, both base runners were able to advance 90 feet due to a wild pitch, putting themselves both in to scoring position. Alexander Kavalick would help leave himself as the lone base runner following a single to left field that was able to drive in Warren and Czajkowski, bringing Alma within one.
The top of the eighth saw the Comets play spoiler once again as three runs scoring with two outs would slow down the Scots with six total outs left. Alma was able to score in the ninth on an RBI single from Charlie Martyn, scoring Preston Schroyer who pinch ran from second, but that is where the Scots would end up for the game.
Tyler Johnson threw the first pitch for the Scots and went for five innings while striking out a season-high 13, which was enough to give him 210 career strikeouts, passing Dylan Dzendzel, who had 206 set back in 2021. Hayden Hileman, Chase Balhoff and Josh West all came in as relief following Johnson, adding another two Ks for a team total of 15.
Alma will now have Saturday off for their Senior Commencement and return to the diamond on Sunday, April 21st to close out the Series against the Comets. The doubleheader will begin at 1:00 PM on the campus of The University of Olivet.
