MOUNT VERNON, Iowa – The Alma College baseball team hit the diamond early for the second half of the four-game series against Cornell College on Saturday, March 22nd. Alma opened day two with an electric win over the Rams in game one by a score of 13-11. The Scots rallied in game two, though ultimately Cornell came away with the finale, 7-5.
In game one, Alma started out slow on offense while the Rams got the gears turning early, putting up a seven spot in the second inning, putting Alma in a sizable hole early. The Scots were able to chip away at the deficit with two runs in the second. Gavin Berger reached first on an error to lead the Scots for the inning. Charlie Martyn singled to left field following advancing Berger to second. Both runners jumped forward a base on a passed ball before Cameron Bleasdale grounded out to first, scoring Berger for the Scots first run. Brant Goodpaster followed behind with a single to score Martyn, bringing the score to 7-2 in favor of the Rams.
Alma added another three runs in the fifth as Berger led the Scots off with a single followed by Martyn with a single as well. Mitch Foley then reached on a fielder's choice as Berger advanced to third to put runners on the corners. A Bleasdale single would be enough to score Berger and advance Foley to third. Goodpaster then grounded out to short but allowed for Foley to score followed by a Kyler Warren double to right center, scoring Bleasdale and bringing Alma within two.
In the sixth, Ryan Kracht reached first off a walk and stole second to put himself into scoring position. Gavin Berger then connected for a single, scoring Kracht and setting the score at 7-6, as Alma was within reach. The Scots lathered the runs on in the eighth as Martyn was the first to reach base on a walk. Foley singled, putting runners on first and second. Bleasdale then loaded the bases after taking a pitch to the body before a passed ball would allow for Martyn to score the first run of the inning. Goodpaster then stayed patient and was awarded a walk to load the bases again, before a wild pitch would score Foley and advance all runners forward one base. After a pitching change for the Rams, Warren then also drew a walk as well as Alexander Kavalick securing a walk as well, scoring Bleasdale in the process. With the bases loaded and the Scots up two, Giuseppe Sapienza barreled a ball for his first career home run over the left field wall, scoring four RBI with the grand slam. Alma's offense would be held at 13 as the Rams added four runs in the bottom the eighth two come within two. Both teams would be held scoreless in the final inning, giving Alma the day two opening win and securing at least a split for the Iowa trip.
Cole Grunwald started the day on the mound for Alma before Tyler Sparks came in as relief going six innings with two strikeouts. Tommy Ches and Josh West also saw action in relief with West notching his first save of the season.
After a hectic and long game one, both teams returned to the field for game two ready to close out the series. Alma jumped out to the first lead of the contest as Bleasdale led the game off with a walk, followed by a Warren single to right field. Ethan Krafft then brought in the first run with a sacrifice fly to center field as Bleasdale tagged up and scored. Sapienza then followed behind the score with a walk with Jack McIntosh stepping into the box shortly after. McIntosh would single to right field, scoring Warren in the process and giving Alma a 2-0 lead after the top of the first.
The Rams responded with four unanswered in the bottom of the first before adding a solo run in the second and a solo run in the third to go up 6-2 through three. An additional single run in the fifth would put Alma behind 7-2 heading into the sixth with the offense slowing down.
Alma brought themselves within two in the seventh inning as Taha Ebrahim reached first on a hit by pitch. Warren singled to right field behind Ebrahim, placing runners on first and second. Krafft then also singled to right field, loading the bases with one out. Sapienza brought in one run with a walk while still keeping the bases loaded. McIntosh then put a ball in play causing an error on the Rams defense, scoring both Warren and Ryan Suchota, who pinch ran for Krafft. Following the seventh, Alma pulled within two as the final out loomed in the distance.
The Scots would put runners on in the ninth, bidding for a comeback win, but the Rams would hold on and pull away with the series finale for a weekend split, 7-5.
Hayden Hileman started on the mound for Alma recording one strikeout. AJ Skinner saw action on the mound as well recording two Ks, with Tyler Lasley notching one strikeout in action behind Skinner. Alex Hardacre and Ryan Koob each pitched a couple innings as both recorded three strikeouts.
Alma will now prepare for MIAA conference action as they will play host to Adrian College on Friday, March 28th for the conference and home opener at Klenk Park. First pitch is set for a 4:00 PM throw.
