ALMA, Mich. – The Alma College baseball team finished their season series with the Knights of Calvin University on Tuesday, April 23rd, at Klenk Park. The Scots were able to sweep Calvin with a 12-2 win in seven innings.
Avery Carnicom connected for the first hit of the game in the bottom of the first with a single to left field, and was driven home by Colin Czajkowski with a double down the left field line. Kyler Warren then singled followed by a Cole Grunwald walk to load the bases as Ethan Krafft stepped up to the plate. Calvin answered back with a solo run in the top of the second to cut the lead in half before the Scots drove in more runs. The bottom of the second saw the first two Scots reach base by a hit by pitch and a walk. Carnicom then stepped up to the plate and sent a ball over the left center wall for a three-run home run to put the Scots up 5-1.
After a scoreless inning, the top of the fourth, was led off by Czajkowski as he singled to left field and was followed by Warren wearing a pitch to the body. Grunwald then laid down a bunt to advance the runners as he was thrown out a first. Krafft then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Czajkowski for Alma's sixth run. Mitch Foley led off the fifth inning with a hit by pitch before stealing second. Kevin Tuttle then hit the Scots second homer of the day over the left field wall. Carnicom then followed the home run up with a double, his third different hit of the day. Czajkowski then advanced Carnicom to the third on a fly out to center field. Warren would send Carnicom home on a single to short stop, putting the Scots up by eight. Following a pitch change, Krafft singled up the middle scoring Warren, for his third RBI of the day.
The sixth inning saw an additional two runs scored on a triple form Carnicom, completing the cycle for the first time in his career. Carnicom then scored on a Czajkowski ground out to put Alma up by 11 heading into the seventh inning. The Knights tacked on a solo run in the top of the seventh to bring the Scots lead back to 10, but that would be the end of the ball game.
Czajkowski started the game on the mound for the Scots going six innings, striking out four and only allowing four hits and one run. Brendan McManus came in as the closer for the seventh inning to round out the pitching for Alma.
Alma will now head to Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan for a non-conference match up against Bluffton University. First pitch inside the Major League ballpark is set for 7:00 PM.
