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Alma College

BSB v Adrian H 25
5
Adrian ADRIAN 8-10, 0-0 MIAA
6
Winner Alma ALMA 8-11, 0-0 MIAA
Adrian ADRIAN
8-10, 0-0 MIAA
5
Final
6
Alma ALMA
8-11, 0-0 MIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 R H E
Adrian ADRIAN 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 14 3
Alma ALMA 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 6 11 1

W: Litwiller, Evan (2-1) L: E. Bieniasz (0-2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Eli Pinter - Assistant Sports Information Director

Baseball Shines as the Sun Sets with Walk Off Win Over Bulldogs in 14th Inning to Open Conference Play

ALMA, Mich. – The Alma College baseball team hosted the Adiran Bulldogs on Thursday, March 27th for their home opener as well as their MIAA Conference opener at Klenk Park on a sunny afternoon. The bright afternoon turned into a sunset and darkness loomed as the Scots and Bulldogs found themselves in an affair that lasted 14 innings to decide the first conference win of the season for both squads. Alma outlasted the Bulldogs and drove in a run in the bottom of the 14th to secure a win at home.

Adrian struck first for the ballgame as the Bulldogs drove in three runs in the top of the second off a double that cleared loaded bases. Heading into the bottom of the second, Alma looked to return the favor and tally some runs for the home team. Giuseppe Sapienza opened the inning with a walk, followed by a single through the left side by Cole Grunwald. With runners on first and second, Ryan Kracht laid down a sacrifice bunt, reaching first, though Sapienza was thrown out at third. Charlie Martyn then reached first on an error to load the bases. The Scots scored their first run off a Mitch Foley 'hit by pitch', scoring Grunwald and cutting the Bulldog lead down to two. Cameron Bleasdale sent an additional two runs across home plate with a single to right center, while also advancing Foley to third. Brant Goodpaster gave the Scots the lead with a fielder's choice, scoring Foley at home. After two, the Scots led 4-3.

After several scoreless innings, the Bulldogs batted in a solo run in the sixth after a sacrifice bunt led to a single, tying the game at fours apiece. 

Another six full innings passed before the next run of the game would be scored, coming from the visiting Bulldogs in the top of the 13th (yes you read that correctly), as a triple from Jack Boike put himself available to score on a sacrifice fly out, taking the lead into the bottom of the inning. The Scots were not ready to quit playing as Foley led the inning off with a single, and advanced to third after the ball took an unconventional bounce in right field. Bleasdale followed his teammate with a double to left center to score Foley, tying the gave a five aside after 13 innings. 

Alma's defense got the Bulldogs to go 'one, two, three' in the top of the 14th, looking for their sixth chance for a walk-off win. Kracht did the heavy lifting in the inning with a double to right center. Easton Denton would pinch run for Kracht as Charlie Chmielewski headed up to the plate to bat. Chmielewski ended up grounding out, with Foley back up to the plate with a chance to end the game. Foley hit a bouncer towards first that was bobbled by the first baseman, allowing for Foley to reach and causing enough chaos that Denton could round third and score at home as the Bulldogs scrambled to get a throw home. Alma moves to 1-0 in MIAA play following the walk-off win as the Bulldogs move to 0-1. 

Tyler Johnson started the marathon on the mound lasting six innings and striking out six in the process. Josh West pitched for one and a third followed by Ken Fistler who pitched for two and two-thirds, collecting two strikeouts. Chase Balhoff saw extra-inning action for two innings, striking out two as well. Evan Litwiller was credited the win pitching the two final innings to close out the game, while moving to 2-1 on the season. 

Alma will now have Friday off due to incoming weather before closing out the series with the Bulldogs on Saturday, March 29th, for a doubleheader in Adrian. First pitch for the games is set for 1:00 PM.

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