OLIVET, Mich. – The Alma College baseball team headed down 127 for a Sunday afternoon doubleheader against The University of Olivet Comets. Alma rebounded from Friday's loss with two marginal victories on Sunday winning game one 11-8, and game two 17-6.
Alma scored the first run in game one as Kevin Tuttle drew a leadoff walk, and advanced to second on a balk before Colin Czajkowski doubled down the left field line scoring Tuttle and Alma's first run. The Scots tacked on a couple more in the top of the third as Tuttle would single to right center and Avery Carnicom doubled to left field. Czajkowski added another two more RBI as he would single to left center, putting the Scots up 3-0. The bottom of the inning saw Olivet notch their first run, cutting Alma's lead down to two before adding more runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Comets found success in the fourth as they were able to score three unanswered runs and take their first lead of the game at 4-3. Olivet was not finished there though as the Comets laid four more runs on. in the bottom of the fifth as they were eyeing down a game two win and their first conference series win of the season.
The Scots found an answer in the top of the sixth as Czajkowzki reached first on an error, while Kyler Warren and Ethan Krafft both reached on singles. Alexander Kavalick gave the Scots some momentum with the bases loaded as his double to center field was able to leave him as the lone base runner and collect three RBI to bring Alma within two of the Comets. The top of the eighth gave Alma more runs as they looked to take back game two to even the series. After a single and a throwing error, Alma found two base runners on for Tony Smith. Smith eventually grounded out, but was able to score Preston Schroyer, who was the pinch runner on third, to bring Alma within one. Two batters later, as Mitch Foley was up to bat, a wild pitch was thrown, allowing for Stephen McGlade to reach home and tie the game at eights aside.
The ninth saw Alma add on some late runs, hoping for them to be enough to take game one of the day. Both Tuttle and Carnicom reached on walks as Czajkowski would also reach on a fielder's choice. With the bases loaded, Taha Ebrahim would single through the left side for two RBI, giving the Scots a two-run lead. Charlie Martyn was able to score Czajkowski, who stole third, on a ground out, giving Alma three insurance runs as Olivet went up to bat with three outs left. The Comets were able to put two runners on base in the bottom of the ninth, but they would not get passed second as Alma was able to hold on and take game two.
Cole Grunwald started the day on the mound for the Scots going 3.2 innings with five strikeouts. Ken Fistler, Davin Reif and Hayden Hileman came in as relievers for the rest of the game as they were able to rack up six more strikeouts combined to help put the Comets away.
The Scots jumped out of the gates right away in game two scoring five runs in the top of the first innings on several RBI singles and a Taha Ebrahim triple that racked up another two RBI to take an early lead. After the Comets added one run on a home run in the bottom of the inning, Alma continued to add in the second as Carnicom doubled down the left field line before Czajkowski hit a deep fly ball over the right field wall for a two-run home run, putting Alma up 7-1. Again, Olivet would not be pushed away easily as they clawed back into the game scoring another four runs in the bottom of the second, to bring the game back within two with a lot of game play left. Brant Goodpaster led the top of the third off with a double down the left field line before Tuttle sent him home on his own double to left field. Carnciom then scored his teammate with a single to left center to put Alma up 9-5, just three innings in.
After some quiet innings following the early fireworks, Alma added onto their lead in the sixth with another two runs. Carnicom and Czajkowski both singled, putting runners at first and third early in the inning. Kavalick grounded out to second, but was able to score Carnicom, putting Alma in double-digits with 10 runs. Czajkowski then scored the 11th for Alma as Krafft was caught stealing at second and Czajkowski was able to sneak passed home and score. A solo run in the seventh for Alma on an RBI single from Foley gave Alma a seven-run lead heading into the eighth. Carnciom led the eighth off with a double and advanced to third on a fly out, before Krafft singled to shortstop and Carnicom raced home for the 13th run of the game. Olivet would score their final run of the game in the bottom of the eighth before the Scots laid down another four runs in the top of the ninth to put the game away. Alma would score on base hits and wild pitches in the ninth, giving them their 17 runs and sweeping the day against thw Comets, while also winning the series.
Kyler Warren started game two on the mound for Alma going 1.1 innings with a solo strikeout. Cam Jones came in for relief and went 6.1 innings, collecting four strikeouts and the win for the day, moving to 3-0 on the season. Ryan Koob and Tyler Lasley both saw action on the mound as well for game two.
The Scots will continue along with the conference slate on Tuesday as Alma will host Calvin for their third game of the series as Alma looks to sweep the Knights for the season. Game time for Tuesday is set for 4:00 PM.
