ALMA, Mich. – Closing out exam week with a Friday doubleheader with the Calvin University Knights, the Alma College baseball team sailed to two victories on the day, winning game one 12-2 in eight innings, and securing the nightcap 8-6. Giuseppe Sapienza had a day for the Scots with two home runs including a grand slam, his second of the season.
Alma scored the days first run in the bottom of the first, as both Grady Pieratt and Sapienza opened the game with walks. After an earlier fly out, Pieratt advanced to third and would score on a Braylon Ryan fly out to left field, putting the Scots on the board first. Kyler Warren followed immediately behind with a single to right center, scoring Sapienza from second for a 2-0 lead after one.
Alma added three more runs in the second as a single from Charlie Martyn and Brant Goodpaster reaching on an error put runners on first and second base. Pieratt then laid down what was supposed to be a sacrifice bunt that turned into chaos as an overthrow from the pitcher let Pieratt round first and reach third on the error, scoring both runners in the process as well. Sapienza then collected one of his many RBI with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Pieratt for a 5-0 lead.
Following some scoreless innings, Calvin notched their first runs of the game in the sixth, sending two across the plate on a double and later a sacrifice fly. Alma came right back with runs of their own in the bottom of the inning as Sapienza picked up his first homer of the day, a two-run shot scoring himself and Goodpaster for a 7-2 lead.
The games remaining runs came in the bottom of the eighth as singles from Pieratt and Sapienza put Alma runners on base for a Kavalick RBI single that scored Pieratt for the innings first run. Ryan then reached first on another error from the Knights, allowing for Preston Schroyer, who pinch ran for Sapienza, and Kavalick to score for a 10-2 lead. A sacrifice fly from Warren sent Bleasdale home and the final run of the run-rule shortened game came off Martyn's bat on an RBI single to right field, scoring Ryan to put Alma up 12-2.
Cole Grunwald as given the nod as the days first starter, tying a career-high ten strikeouts and the win in a six-inning outing. Kaden Warren picked up the final two innings with two Ks in the process.
After turning the field and resetting for game two, both teams hot the diamond and got the ball rolling for the nightcap. Calvin took the reins early in game two, scoring the game's first run in the first following a failed pickoff attempt and a ground out.
The Scots tied the game in the third as Ka. Warren tripled to left center for the second at bat of the inning. Cade Sutherland then was struck by a pitch to put runners on the corners. A wild pitch would cause some chaotic base running as Warren would get tagged out at home and Sutherland reached second. Goodpaster found first on an error by second base, sending Sutherland home and tying the game at ones.
Alma blew the game wide open in the fourth as singles from Kavalick and Bleasdale set up some base running. A failed pickoff attempt allowed for Kavalick to steal home for the Scots first lead of the game. A Sutherland two RBI single gave the Scots a three-run lead as Vannest singled as well as Bleasdale still on second. A Goodpaster single would load the bases following the runs for Alma as Sapienza stepped into the box, with one home run on the day already. The Knights saw the close game get stretched away from them as Sapienza sent a high fly ball over the center field batters eye for a grand slam and putting the Scots on top by seven, leading 8-1.
Calvin was able to shake the defensive struggles off quickly as the offense pulled them back within reach with four runs in the bottom of the fourth, pulling within three. The remainder of the next four innings would be a showcase of the pitching talents for both teams as James Ross and Alma's Brady Sager would go toe to toe and hod batters in check over some distance. The ninth saw the Knights threaten and plate one run across but Kenny Fistler, with the bases loaded, would pull himself out of a jam and seal the win for the Scots, 8-6 for a 2-0 day at Klenk Park.
Tyler Sparks was the Scots starter in game two, pitching four innings and striking out five. Sager saw four innings of relief for a game and career-high seven strikeouts. Fistler struck out the final batter of the game and picked up his fifth save of the year while Sager picked up his fourth win.
Alma will finish the series with the Knights on Monday, April, 20th, as they will travel to Grand Rapids for a single game starting at 4:00 PM.
