ADRIAN, Mich. – The Alma College baseball team returned to their series with the Bulldogs of Adrian College on Saturday, March 29th, at Nicolay Field for a doubleheader. The Scots after taking game one of the series in 14 innings, were defeated in both games on Saturday by final scores of 18-7 and 9-3.
In game one, the Bulldogs scored early and often as they jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the bottom of the first, putting Alma behind early. The Scots cut into the lead early in the top of the second as Giuseppe Sapienza took a pitch over the center field wall for a solo home run, bringing the score to 7-1. The Bulldogs continued to increase their lead as another three runs were tallied in the third. Alma again wouldn't back down adding runs in the fourth as Alexander Kavalick doubled to right field. Tony Smith followed behind with a single up the middle, scoring Kavalick for the Scots first run of the inning. Following a walk, Charlie Martyn put a ball towards third base that was not fielded cleanly, causing an error and scoring Smith. Through four, the Scots trailed 10-3.
Alma cut the deficit down to five in the fifth as Kavalick hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Brant Goodpaster, who reached after being struck by a pitch. Tony Smith also singled, scoring Kyler Warren who reached in a single to center field and stole second before the hit. Following the Scots offense, Adrian created some of their own, scoring five more runs in the bottom of the fifth, putting the Scots down 15-5. An additional three came in the sixth before Alma responded with some runs of their own, trailing 18-5 heading into the seventh. Goodpaster reached first on a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Goodpaster would advance to third on a ground out before being sent across home plate on a Kavalick single to short. Sapienza then picked up his teammate at first with a double to right center, scoring Kavalick for the Scots final run of the game.
Cole Grunwald, Tommy Ches, Ryan Koob, Blake Stone and Tyler Lasley all saw action on the mound in game one. Koob picked up the Scots two strikeouts for game one as well.
With the series tied one to one, the second game of the day would be the rubber match, deciding the series. Adrian picked right up where they left off in game one as they tallied four runs in the bottom of the first to jump out to an early lead. Another solo run would come in the fifth before three more were tacked on in the sixth, putting Alma in a hold with offensive chances dwindling. Alma put themselves on the board in the eighth as Cameron Bleasdale doubled to left center field. Kavalick put a ball through the left side, allowing for Bleasdale to bolt home and score for Alma's first run.
The Bulldogs responded with a single run in the bottom of the eighth, making Alma's comeback bid another run harder to obtain. In the ninth, Connor Grant got the action going for Alma with a double to center field, and advancing to third on a wild pitch. Mitch Foley was right behind with a walk and advancing to second. Bleasdale then scored the final two runs of the game with a single to left center, scoring both base runners, and bringing the sore to 9-3, the final.
Cade Sutherland kicked off action on the mound in game two, going for three and a third with one strikeout. Tyler Sparks came in for relief for one and two-thirds with one K as well. Alex Hardacre closed out the pitching staff in game two, pitching for three innings and three strikeouts.
Alma will return to action on Wednesday, April 2nd as they will travel to Grand Rapids to face the Knights of Calvin University for a single game. First pitch is set for 4:00 PM.
