ALMA, Mich. – The Alma College baseball team played host to MIAA rival Albion College at Klenk Park on Friday, April 11th. The anticipated matchup between two stellar pitchers brought the action and an intense meeting for a sunny Friday afternoon.
Alma was able to break the ice first, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning. Giuseppe Sapienza would strikeout swinging though the catcher would drop the ball and Sapienza took off towards first. An errant throw over the first baseman's head would allow for Sapienza to reach base and also turn for another, reaching second safely on the error. Brant Goodpaster then gave himself up at the plate with a sacrifice bunt to advance Sapienza to third, putting Alma 90 feet away from the games first run. Alexander Kavalick completed the task at hand and singled to left field, scoring Sapienza and giving Alma the lead.
The Scots were able to tack on another run in the bottom of the second, as Ryan Kracht led the inning off with a double down the left field line. Cole Grunwald then reached first on an error by the pitcher, advancing Kracht to third. Ethan Krafft then put a ball high in the air into right field, allowing for Kracht to tag up and score at home, putting Alma up 2-0.
Following the two opening runs, both pitchers settled into their groove and combined for 13 strikeouts between the two from the top of the third to the bottom of the seventh inning.
Alma was able to add some insurance runs in the eighth inning leading off with Ryan Kracht who would rope a ball down the left field line, overt the wall for a solo home run, and the end of Albion's aces day. After the home run, Braden Andrejack, Charlie Martyn and Mitch Foley all reached base on walks, loading the bases for Alma with two outs. Sapienza then placed a ball over the second baseman's head for a single, scoring Andrejack and Martyn before an errant throw allowed for Foley to score as well, clearing the bases except for Sapienza himself. The three RBI single brought the score to 6-0 following the eighth. Ken Fistler was able to keep the Britons out of reach in the ninth, striking out three batters and keeping Albion off the board.
Tyler Johnson was given the nod to face off against Cole Gisige in an anticipated pitcher's duel, where Johnson came away on top with his fourth win of the year. Johnson notched 12 strikeouts in the game, five of which came looking. Giesige got Alma to strikeout seven times while only allowing two earned runs. Fistler picked up his fourth save of the year in the contest as well to go along with his three K's.
Alma will now take the bus ride down 127 to Albion College for the remainder of the series with the Britons to take place on Saturday, April 11th. First pitch for the doubleheader is set for 1:00 PM.
