Alma, MI – Alma College Softball was in action on Thursday, hosting the Belles of Saint Mary's College in MIAA conference play. The Scots split the afternoon, winning game one 11-3, before falling 7-3 in the nightcap.
Alma 11, Saint Mary's 3 (5 innings)
Both teams scored early, with Alma managing to score more often in game one. The Belles plated a pair of runs in the top of the 1st inning, before the Scots responded with some early offense of their own. Katelyn Thomas opened the scoring for Alma when she hit an RBI single up the middle, scoring Haylie Alsip and Jordyn Porter to tie the game at 2-2. Moments later, a double steal scored another run to give Alma the lead, and the Scots got insurance runs off the bats of Sophia Somerset and Natalia Rodriguez, leading 5-2 after one inning.
After a scoreless 2nd inning, SMC struck in the 3rd on a sac fly to make it 5-3. The deficit wouldn't stay at two for long. A pair of errors from Saint Mary's would allow Alma to bring home two more runs to lead 7-3 after three. The home team added to the lead in the next inning, courtesy of a Somerset RBI double, and led 8-3. It wasn't much later that Alma ended things, with Julia Duncan hitting an RBI double, and Camille Lozmack scoring her on a single moments later to end the game early, 11-3 the final.
Duncan led the way with a 3-4 outing, and the Scots got two hits apiece from Peyton Fether, Lozmack, and Somerset. It was a base stealing clinic from the Scots as well, with four stolen bags in the game. Morgan Westall (13-3) pitched a complete game in the win. She allowed three runs on eight hits over five innings, walking three and striking out two.
Saint Mary's 7, Alma 3
In game two, it was Alma who would open the scoring in the 1st on a Duncan single to right field. SMC scored two in the bottom of the inning to take the lead, only for Alma to take it right back. In the top of the 2nd, a wild pitch scored Kendal Holzinger from third, and a Peyton Fether single to center field added another run in the form of Mckenna Salley.
The Belles wasted no time in taking the lead back in the bottom of the inning, forcing a Scots pitching change in the process, and never looked back. Alma trailed 5-3 after two innings, and Saint Mary's tacked on a run in the 5th, and one more in the 6th, bringing the score to its final of 7-3.
Thomas led with two hits and a walk in the loss. Alma got hits out of six other Scots, and Duncan drew a pair of walks. The Scots also racked up five more stolen bases, with Alsip snagging two to lead the running efforts. Mikaylyn Kenney (7-4) got the start, pitching 1.2 innings. She allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits, while striking out two. Bella Treloar pitched 4.1 innings in relief. She allowed two runs on three hits and two walks, striking out three in the process.
Alma moves to 21-9, 7-3 in MIAA play, and is on the road at Kalamazoo on Saturday.
