ALMA, Mich. – The Alma College baseball team started their season series against the Calvin University Knights on Monday, April 8th, after the game was postponed twice due to poor weather conditions. The Scots came out of the gates firing on all cylinders as they were able to score 10 unanswered runs in the first two innings, leading to a 14-4 win in seven innings.
The Scots opened the game on the mound and clawed their way out of a bases loaded situation in the top of the first as they were able to turn a double play and keep the score knotted at zero's heading into the bottom of the inning. Alma's offense got the ball rolling early as Kevin Tuttle led the Scots off with a single through the left side. Avery Carnicom would bring Tuttle home just one pitch later as he connected for his 200th career hit over the left center wall for a deep home run to put the Scots up 2-0 early. Colin Czajkowski then followed behind with a walk and would advance to second on a ground out before crossing home plate on an Alexander Kavalick single and error that advanced him to third. The Scots would score their fourth and final run of the inning during the next at bat as Tony Smith grounded out to second base, but Kavalick raced home and was able to score. The second inning saw more of the Scots action from the first as Tuttle would be the first to reach base on a walk, and ultimately reach third on a failed pick off attempt with an overthrow to place himself into scoring position. Carnicom was then walked to put runners on the corners for Czajkowski to step up to the plate. Czajkowski then placed a ball into the left field for a single and advanced both base runners, ultimately scoring Tuttle. The Knights then went to the bullpen and changed who was on the mound, but that would not phase Cole Grunwald. On the first pitch from the new pitcher, Grunwald connected with a pitch that was a no-doubter as soon as he made contact, taking it over the left center wall for a three-run shot, pushing the Alma lead to 8-0. Kavalick followed the home run up with a double to right center and was scored during the next at bat as Tony Smith singled to center field. Smith would steal second and then be driven home by a Dalton D'Alexander double to bring the Scots to a 10-0 lead after two.
Calvin was able to put themselves on the board in the top of the third with a couple triples that would eventually score and cut the Scots lead down to eight. Alma responded right away in the bottom of the inning though as Carnicom would connect for a triple of his own and score on a line out from Czajkowski. The Knights would score their final two runs of the game in the top of the fifth off of a home run and some singles that brought home another run. The Scots extended their lead back to eight in the sixth as D'Alexander placed a ball down the left field line for a double and advanced to third on the throw, before Stehpen McGlade would connect for a sacrifice fly and score D'Alexander.
The bottom of the seventh saw Carnicom led the inning off with a walk, followed by a Czajkowski single up the middle. Czajkowski then stole second as Carnicom reached third on the single, but the Knights catcher didn't try to throw him out as Carnciom read the play. After a mid-inning pitching change, Kavalick was also walked to load the bases. Tony Smith then stepped up to the plate looking to close the game out in walk-off fashion, but he was hit by a pitch and sent to first scoring Carnicom in the process. During the next at bat, Taha Ebrahim stepped in as the pinch hitter and saw a couple pitches before the Knights would inadvertently throw the ball back to the mound where it was off the mark and not caught, as Czajkowski saw this all unfold and came racing home to give Alma their ten-run lead back and close the game out, 14-4.
Kyler Warren was the starter on the mound for Alma pitching 4.1 innings, recording one strikeout and allowing the four runs. Chase Balhoff came in as the reliever for Alma, pitching 2.2 innings with two strikeouts and allowing zero hits.
Alma will now have Tuesday off before returning to action against the Knights on Wednesday, at Calvin. The Scots look to start game two of the three against the Knights at 4:00 PM.
