NEW CONCORD, Ohio – Hitting the field for the first time since the spring break trip down south, the Alma College baseball team traveled to Ohio for a weekend series with the Fightin Muskies of Muskingum University. The Scots split the day taking the early game, 8-5 while being defeated in the nightcap, 7-2.
In game one, the scored stayed tied at zeroes for the first three innings until Alma broke the silence as tallied three in the third inning. Justin Diaz led the inning off with a walk, followed by Goodpaster being hit by a pitch to put runners on base. Cameron Bleasdale sent the first run home with an RBI single to right center, leaving runners on the corners. Bleasdale then stole second, opening the door for Goodpaster to score on the throw down, adding Alma's second run of the game. Two batters later, Kyler Warren singled to right center, scoring Bleasdale for the Scots third run.
Muskingum cut into the lead in the fourth with two runners scoring, with one of the runs unearned. Alma added another quick run in the top of the fifth as back-to-back doubles came from Goodpaster and Alexander Kavalick, scoring the first run. Several batters later, with Kavalick still on base, Warren sent a deep ball over the outfield wall for his first home run of the season, putting Alma up 6-2.
The Fighting Muskies didn't shy away as the bottom of the inning saw them add two more runs, unearned, bringing the score within two again. Muskingum reached within one in the seventh as a solo run came across home plate, but the Scots would hold them scoreless for the remainder of the game. Alma was able to add two more runs in the game, both on solo home runs. Charlie Martyn added on solo shot in the eighth while Kavalick added another in the ninth, propelling the Scots to a game one, 8-5 victory.
Cole Grunwald was the winning pitcher of game one, moving to 4-0, while dealing on the mound for five innings and striking out six. Brady Sager, Evan Litwiller and Kenny Fistler all saw action on the mound as well with Sager and Litwiller each adding a whiff and Fistler picking up his second save of the year.
In the Saturday nightcap, the game was tightly contested for over half the game as the score stayed put at zeroes into the beginning of the sixth inning. The bottom of the inning is where Muskingum broke the silence, sending one run across the plate to take the first lead of the game. Alma answered back in the top of the seventh with two runs as two singles from Diaz and Goodpaster put runners on base. A passed ball later in the inning advanced both runners to second and third before a throwing error allowed for both Scots to cross the plate and regain the lead.
Muskingum again responded in the bottom of the inning as six runs came across home plate for the home team, leading to the final score of 7-2.
Josh Soneral was the starting pitcher for the Scots as he lasted 6.1 innings on the mound, striking out four. William Fockler, Tyler Lasley and Ryan Koob all saw action in relief as well.
Alma will return to the diamond on Sunday for a winner take all match to determine the series. First pitch is slated for 1:00 PM.
