OLIVET, Mich. – The Alma College baseball team returned to action after an exam week hiatus, facing off against The University of Olivet on Friday, April 19th, in Olivet, Michigan. The Scots added their fourth straight win and moved to 16-15 overall with a 9-7 win over the Comets.
Alma got the ball rolling early as Cameron Bleasdale led the game off with a double to right center. Giuseppe Sapienza, in the second at bat of the game, collected an RBI on a single to left center, scoring Bleasdale from second. The Comets were ready to play as well as they notched a run in the first inning as well with a home run over the right field wall to tie the game.
The Scots looked to regain their lead and again it only took two batters. Ryan Kracht led the inning off with a walk, followed by Cole Grunwald taking a pitch over the right field wall for a two-run shot, giving Alma a 3-1 lead in the second. Though again, the Comets were not shying away from a contest, Olivet cut the lead in half in the bottom if the inning with an RBI single.
With no shortage of scoring, Alma added some insurance runs in the third, with Kyler Warren recording his fourth triple of the season, as he returned for a couple weeks off from injury. Kracht then sent him home with a single down the left field line, putting Alma up 4-2. Grunwald then reached base on an error and advanced to second while Kracht made it to third. Charlie Martyn would pick up an RBI with a ground out to third, scoring Kracht for Alma's fifth run.
The bottom of the third and the complete fourth inning would finally quiet down as neither team added to the scoreboard until the top of the fifth, as Alma looked to increase the narrow lead. Warren led the inning off with a single, followed by a wild pitch advancing him to second. Kracht notched the first RBI of the inning with a double down the left field line, scoring Warren in the process. Grunwald then copied suit with a double down the left field line as well, scoring Kracht. Martyn collected his first RBI of the game as he singled to center, scoring Grunwald and putting the Scots up 8-2.
The final Alma run would come in the bottom of the sixth as Alexander Kavalick led the inning off, taking a pitch he liked over the center field fence for a solo shot, and giving the Scots a seven-run lead.
Olivet chipped away and got one back in the sixth, followed by four more unanswered in the eighth, though the Scots would hold the Comets to seven and come away with a series opening win 9-7.
Tyler Johnosn made history on the mound, recording 15 strikeouts in the contest, becoming the first Alma pitcher in program history to break the 300 career strikeouts mark. Following the game, Johnson currently sits at 304 career strikeouts with 85 on the season. Tommy Ches and Ken Fistler also saw action on the mound in relief, with Fistler picking up a K as well.
Alma will return to action against the Comets on Monday, April 21st to round out the series against Olivet at Klenk Park with a doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 1:00 PM in Alma, Michigan.
