ALBION, Mich. – The Alma College baseball team hit the road on the morning of Saturday, April 12th, as they looked to complete the season series with the Britons of Albion College. The Scots took both games of the doubleheader in tight contests by scores of 5-4 and 6-5.
For the first game of the doubleheader, Alm jumped out to the first lead once again, coming in the third inning. Tony Smith led the inning off with a single and would advance to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Mitch Foley. Giuseppe Sapienza collected another RBI on the season with a single that scored Smith for the first run of the game.
Following the solo run, scoring came to a standstill until the bottom of the fifth. Albion out their first run of the game on the board coming off some errors from the Scots to tie the game. Alma responded right away though in the top of the sixth as Brant Goodpaster led off with a double, followed by a Ryan Kracht double, placing runners on second and third. Cole Grunwald collected two RBI with a single, scoring both runners to put Alma up 3-0. Ethan Krafft trailed behind with a single as well as Smith with another single that would score Grunwald for the Scots fourth run and final of the inning.
Albion needed a response following the Scots insurance runs and the Britons answered. Another two runs from Albion brought the game back to one score heading into the final three innings. Alma again mustered up their own response in the top of the seventh as Goodpaster singled early in the inning. Using his speed, Goodpaster ended up stealing second, playing a crucial part in the game. Kracht then doubled for his second time of the game, scoring Goodpaster and putting the Scots back on top by two, headlining into the bottom of the seventh. Albion would be quieted down following the consecutive innings with runs, until the bottom of the eighth where a solo run would cross the plate, bringing the Britons back within one. Alma would be able to hold Albion scoreless in the ninth and pull away with the first of two on Saturday, also locking up the series with the win.
Starting on the mound for the Scots was Cameron Bleasdale, pitching for two and a third innings with two hits and two strikeouts. Tyler Sparks and Josh West also came in as relief with two K's coming from Sparks. Ken Fistler finished the final three innings, collecting three strikeouts and picking up his fifth save of the year.
Returning for game two, Albion looked to right their wrongs from the two prior games, taking the first lead this time and continuing to add on to it. Albion Put up a run in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead followed by another run in the second and an additional run in the third, going up 3-0 through three. Alma brought the game back within one in the fourth as Alexander Kavalick reached first after being hit by a pitch. Kavalick advanced to second on a ground out before reaching home after Grunwald reached first on an error and then scored, allowing for Kavalick to also score across home plate. Following the error, three singles from Smith Foley and Stephen McGlade, loaded the bases. Ethan Krafft then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Smith and bringing the score to 3-3 in the middle frames.
Albion tacked on another run to regain the lead in the fifth inning following some walks and a single. Alma retaliated right back in the sixth as Foley reached in a fielder's choice with Krafft collecting a single to right field shortly after. With Foley on third, Sapienza placed a ball into the right field for a single, scoring Foley and again tying the game.
Alma took their first lead of the game in the seventh as Grunwald doubled to left field, followed by a Kavalick walk. Charlie Martyn then pinch hit for McGlade and sent a ball deep into left field for a double, scoring both Grunwald and Kavalick to put Alma up 6-4. The Britons were able to get one back in the bottom of the seventh, but Alma's pitching and defense would hold on for their second one-run win of the day.
Evan Litwiller started game two on the mound with two strikeouts in one and two0thirds innings. Cade Sutherland came in for two and a third innings with two strikeouts as well. Tommy Ches was credited the win after appearing for two innings and also grabbing two K's. Ryan Koob and Ken Fistler also saw action in the game as well with Koob registering four strikeouts and Fistler picking up another save.
Alma will now have a week to prepare for a weekend series with the Comets of The University of Olivet, beginning on Friday, April 18th, in Olivet, Michigan. Game time for the single matchup is set for 4:00 PM.
