ANDERSON, Ind. – The Alma College baseball team wrapped up the season series with Anderson University (IN) on Saturday, March 15th. The Scots repeated day one as they dropped the first game, 8-4, but then won game two, 8-4, for a weekend series split.
Anderson opened the game up in the first inning with two home runs to take a 3-0 lead to open play on Saturday. Alma cut the lead down in the third quarter as Mitch Foley led off with a single. Foley reached second on a ground out in the next at bat, as Kyler Warren stepped up to the plate next. Warren proceeded to double to right field, scoring Foley and leaving himself in scoring position. Alexander Kavalick then copied Warren with another double, this time to center field, scoring Warren and bringing the Scots within one though three.
The Ravens added another two runs in the bottom of the fourth, extending their lead back to three, putting g the pressure back on the Scots offense. Alma would get one back in the fifth as Brant Goodpaster reached first on a base hit and advanced to second on a throwing error. Goodpaster would advance to third on a ground out as well, before being sent home from a Kavalick single to right field. Anderson's offense kept coming though as a solo run in the sixth and two runs in the eighth put the Scots behind five with just three out remaining. In the ninth, Alma's comeback was brought to life with a Cole Grunwald deep shot over the left field wall, though the Ravens would hold Alma scoreless following Grunwald's first of the season.
Hayden Hileman started on the bump for Alma, going three and two-thirds with two strikeouts. Josh West saw action as a reliever going three and a third with three strikeouts as William Fockler came in for an inning as well.
Heading into the final game, down two games to one in the series, Alma looked to bounce back for a series split with bad weather looming in the distance. The Scots opened the game off with two runs, beginning with singles from Warren, Kavalick, putting runner son the corners. Jack McIntosh singled as well sending Warren home for the games first run. Giuseppe Sapienza also singled, scoring Kavalick and putting the visitors up by two.
Both teams were held off the scoreboard for some time until the fifth inning, where Alma added insurance in the top of the inning. Cameron Bleasdale kicked off the inning with a single, followed by a Goodpaster double, putting runners on second and third. A wild pitch would score the first run of the inning, moving both base runners forward a base. Warren was then able to score Goodpaster with a single down the right field line for the second run of the inning. Following a pitching change, Warren stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error before Kavalick hit a sacrifice fly out to center field, scoring Warren and putting Alma up 5-0. The Ravens would score their first runs of the game in the bottom of the fifth, driving in four, making it a one-run game.
The sixth inning started with rain and wind, making playing conditions not ideal as the Scots headed to the plate. Foley reached first on an error followed by two singles by Bleasdale and Goodpaster, with Goodpaster scoring Foley in the process, putting Alma back up two. Goodpaster would steal second and Warren was intentionally walked, as Kavalick stepped up to the plate as well with the bases loaded. The designated hitter proceeded to single to right center, scoring both Bleasdale and Goodpaster, for Alma's eighth and final run.
After some time during a rain delay, the officials and coaches made the decision to call the game in the middle of the sixth inning due to the weather, giving Alma their second win f the series and a weekend split. Freshman Cade Sutherland made his third appearance on the mound for the season, lasting four and two-thirds with five strikeouts. Evan Litwiller was called in for relief, collecting his first win of the season.
Alma will now have Sunday off before returning to action on Monday against Franklin College for a doubleheader in Indiana. Games are set to start at 1:00 PM and 4:00 Pm for the Monday action.
