GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Alma College baseball team completed their first of three single games with the Calvin University Knights on Tuesday, April 1st, as the game was moved up a day due to inclement weather approaching over the week. The Scots scored first, though the Knights came away with the first game of the series by a final score of 6-3.
As noted, Alma jumped out to the games first lead in the bottom of the first as Cameron Bleasdale led the game off with a walk, followed by Brant Goodpaster taking a pitch to the body. Alexander Kavalick then got the games first hit with a single up the middle, loading the bases for the Scots. Kyler Warren then scored the first run of the game with his ground out in the infield, scoring Bleasdale from third. Alma would be held to one run with runners still on base after the first.
Calvin responded in the bottom of the third with simple baseball, collecting numerous base knocks to tally five runs, taking their first lead of the game in the process. Alma looked to cut the Knights lead down as much as possible in the sixth as Cole Grunwald led the inning off with a single through the left side. Tony Smith would notch the second Scots run of the game with a double down the left field line, scoring Grunwald from first. Mitch Foley then advanced Smith to third with a sacrifice bunt. Bleasdale ended up collecting the RBI on a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing for Smith to tag up and score, giving the Scots three runs. Calvin would hold the Scots off the scoreboard following the sixth inning, along with the Knights adding an insurance run for themselves, bringing the final score to 6-3.
Bleasdale made his first appearance of the season on the mound to start the game, collecting two strikeouts in two and a third innings of action. Josh West, Chase Balhoff, Tyler Sparks, Evan Litwiller and Alex Hardacre all made an appearance as well with Balhoff and Sparks each recording a strikeout in the game.
The Scots will look to get back in the win column on Friday as they will travel to Holland, Michigan to take on the Flying Dutch of Hope College. First pitch is set for a 4:00 PM start.
