ADA, Ohio – Rounding out their last road non-conference trip of the season, the Alma College baseball squad headed south to Ohio for warmer weather and a date with the Polar Bears of Ohio Northern University, who are receiving votes in the d3baseball.com national polls currently. The Scots took care of business in game one of the doubleheader, winning 14-8, before falling in heartbreak fashion, 8-7 in a walk off situation.
In the early game of the doubleheader, the Scots opened the scoring for the game with a three run second inning. Kyler Warren led the inning off with a walk followed by a Braylon Ryan single through the left side, putting Scots on base. Charlie Martyn laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners before Brant Goodpaster reached first on an error, scoring Warren unearned. Giuseppe Sapienza followed behind with a double to score Ryan, also unearned and send Goodpaster to third. Alexander Kavalick then reached first on an error, scoring Goodpaster in the play and giving the Scots a 3-0 lead.
A home run for the Polar Bears in the second brought Ohio Northern within one heading into the third. Warren and Ryan both reached base again in the third and again advanced to scoring position. Justin Diaz joined the party after drawing a walk to load the bases with Goodpaster stepping into the box. Goodpaster didn't get to be the exciting hero but collected an RBI though as a pitch struck him, sending him to first and scoring a run for the Scots. Sapienza then stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded, looking to take full advantage of the situation. Sapienza did exactly that as he sent a ball deep into left field and over the wall for the Scots first grand slam of the season and clearing the bases. Alma ended the inning leading 8-2.
The fourth saw the Scots tack on two more runs as again Warren and Ryan each reached base and ended up in scoring position once again. A passed ball would score Warren from third and advance Ryan to third for the first run of the inning, followed by a Martyn ground out that scored Ryan to put Alma up 10-2.
Another Polar Bear home run tallied a run in the fourth inning, bringing the score to 10-3, in favor of the Scots. Ohio Northern chipped away once again with a solo run in the sixth to bring their deficit to six runs heading into the seventh.
Alma increased their lead in the seventh as Sapienza kicked the inning off with a walk, followed by a Kavalick single to put runners on the corners. Cameron Bleasdale reached first on a fielder's choice, scoring Sapienza and giving Alma their 11th run.
Ryan opened the eighth with a bunt single, followed by a walk by Martyn and Diaz reaching first on an error to load the bases for Alma. Sapienza singled through the right side, scoring both Ryan and Martyn, leaving runners on the corners. A Kavalick walk would again load the bases for Bleasdale to step up to the plate. Bleasdale would ground out to second, collecting an RBI in the process as Diaz came across home plate, putting Alma up 14-4.
The Polar Bears put together a comeback bid in the eighth and ninth, plating two runs each inning, but not enough to overcome the deficit as the Scots would take the opening game of the series.
Cole Grunwald moved to 4-0 on the season after getting the start and collecting the win with four strikeouts in five innings of work. Josh West and Evan Litwiller saw relief action following Grunwald. Tyler Lasley and Roman Forcia each added one strikeout apiece in relief as well. Sapienza ended the game with seven RBI, entering the record book for single game RBI at third for his performance, while going 4-5 from the dish.
The Scots looked to sweep the Saturday and take game two over the nationally recognized Polar Bears. Ohio Northern had other plans.
The Polar Bears opened the scoring in game two in the second, scoring the first run on a deep ball, followed by two more in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead.
Alma broke their silence in the sixth inning as Bleasdale doubled to left field, scoring both Sapienza and Goodpaster who reached on base knocks earlier in the inning.
The Scots tied the game in the eighth as Kavalick reached first on an error, advancing to second on a groundout during the next at bat. Warren then doubled to left field, scoring Preston Schroyer who pinch ran for Kavalick, tying the game at three's aside.
ONU responded with two runs in the bottom of the eighth to regain the lead as the Scots headed into the ninth.
Alma came back looking to play spoiler and tie the game with their backs against the wall. Sapienza was walked, followed by a Easton Tolson single and a Bleasdale walk to load the bases for Alma. Warren played hero with a single to center field, scoring both Sapienza and Tolson, tying the game a 5-5. Alma added another run to force the hosts to play catch-up in the bottom of the inning as Martyn reached first on an error, scoring Bleasdale for the Scots first lead of game two.
The Polar Bears scored a game-tying run with two on base from a double with no outs. After a ground out and an intentional walk, with the bases loaded, Ohio Northern drew a walk, scoring the game-winning run for a walk off win to tie the series at a game apiece.
Josh Soneral went for six innings on the mound, starting for the Scots, with four strikeouts. Brady Sager saw two innings for one strikeout, followed by Kenny. Fistler who pitched the ninth picked up the loss for Alma, moving to 0-1 on the season.
A rubber match is set for 12:00 PM tomorrow, Sunday, March 22nd, in Ada, Ohio.
