ALMA, Mich. – Celebrating their seniors in the final weekend doubleheader of the regular season, the Alma College baseball team welcomed the number six team in the nation, the Kalamazoo College Hornets, to Klenk Park for a Saturday twinbill. The Scots fell behind in both games on the day and were able to pull off two walk-off wins in one day, securing the series win against the nationally ranked Hornets. The Scots took game one by a final score of 7-6 in 11 innings, followed by a 4-3 win in seven innings.
Kalamazoo opened the day with total control through half an inning at Klenk Par, sending six runs across the plate to put the Scots in a large hole to open the day. Alma's defense and pitching staff would not surrender another run the remainder of the game following the opening inning.
The Scots put their first runs on the board in the bottom of the second, cutting the deficit in half with a bases loaded double from Brady Vannest, scoring all three runners and bringing the Scots back within reach of the Hornets.
Alma added another two runs in the fifth inning as Grady Pieratt reached first on an error, followed by Giuseppe Sapienza reaching with a single to left center field. Another crucial double came from the Scots as Alexander Kavalick connected with the ball to send it to left field, scoring both Pieratt and Sapienza, bringing Alma within one through five played.
The seventh inning saw the Scots climb all the way out of their early deficit and tie the game, starting the inning with Sapienza reaching first on an infield error. Kavalick sent Sapienza to second with a single through the left side, putting runners on first and second. Braylon Ryan collected the game-tying RBI with a single through the left side, scoring Sapienza and resetting the scene with a tie ball game.
Neither team would send any runs across home plate in the eighth or ninth, calling for extra's to be played. The tenth saw both teams' defenses and pitching take care of the action, and another inning was called upon for the opening game of the day. Alma took care of the Hornets in the top of the 11th, only allowing a walk and no more movement from there. Sapienza was the Scots first man aboard in the 11th as a single up the middle put him on first. Kavalick drew a walk but would be out during the next at bat on a fielder's choice, as Ryan would take his place on first. Brant Goodpaster then was pitched three balls before being intentionally walked, loading the bases for Alma. Kyler Warren, on his senior day, took the moment himself and scored the Scots game-winning run with a single through the left side, scoring Preston Schroyer, who pinch ran for Sapienza, and giving the Scots an early game upset win over the number six Hornets, keeping their chances for an MIAA regular season title alive.
Cole Grunwald was given the spot to start for the Scots in game one, pitching five innings and striking out three. Easton Tolson, Tyler Lasley and Brady Sager all saw action in relief for at least an inning apiece. Kenny Fistler pitched the tenth and 11th, picking up the win, moving to 1-2 on the season while allowing no hits.
Following a brief senior day celebration between games, both teams returned to the field for the nightcap, following the extra inning excitement. Alma jumped out to the games first lead in game two, scoring the first run of the game in the bottom of the second. Ryan opened the inning with a single towards third base. Several batters later in the inning, Vannest roped a ball down the left field line for a double, sending Ryan across home plate from first base, giving Alma the early lead.
The Scots kept the Hornets scoreless through four, before the nationally ranked offense broke the drought and scored a couple runs in the fifth. A double and a sacrifice fly were enough to plate two-runs for Kalamazoo and take their first lead of the game. The Hornets were able to extend their lead in the sixth, scoring a run on a bases loaded walk, before the Scots would work their way out of the jam.
The bottom of the sixth saw the Scots offense fire up and set the scene once again tying the ball game back up. Back-to-back singles from Kavalick and Ryan put Alma base runners on first and second. Schroyer, pinch running for Kavalick, raced towards third for a stolen base, before an errant throw allowed for him to dart home and score a run, while Ryan advanced to second in the background of the makeshift double steal that did not appear planned. With Ryan on third, Warren hit a deep sacrifice fly to left field, letting Ryan tag up and jet towards home for the game-tying run, evening the game at three's aside through six innings of play.
Two strikeouts and a fly out saw the Hornets go down 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh, setting the scene once again for a walk-off Alma win. Back-to-back singles from Pieratt and Sapienza put runners on the corners with two outs. Tolson, pinch hitting for Schroyer/Kavalick, secured a full count walk to load the bases as Ryan looked to be the game two hero. A second pitch swing and a single up the middle wrote the final chapter of game two, scoring Pieratt from third and capturing a second walk-off win for the day over the nationally ranked Hornets.
Tyler Sparks, the starter for game two, pitched six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, and struck out five. Evan Litwiller picked up his second win of the season, moving to 2-1, while striking out three.
Alma will wrap up game three of the series tomorrow, Sunday, April 26th, as they travel to Kalamazoo and Woodworth Field for a 2:00 PM start in the series finale.
