GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After weeklong on and off rain finally loosened up a bit, the Alma College baseball team traveled to Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, to complete the season series with The University of Olivet Comets on a turf field under the lights and rain. The Scots found themselves on the wrong side of a high-scoring affair in the early game of a doubleheader before rebounding with a 16-7 win in the nightcap.
Alma opened the scoring for the first game as Cameron Bleasdale double to center field and was then drove home by Cole Grunwald who ground-rule doubled for the games first run. The Scots added another in the second as Kyler Warren singled and Justin Diaz was secured a walk to put runners on the basepaths. A sacrifice ground out advanced both runners forward a base before a passed ball was enough to score Warren from third and give Alma a 2-0 lead.
The Scots lead diminished quick as the Comets offense woke up in the bottom of the second as Olivet sent five runs across the plate to take a three-run lead into the third.
Alma responded in the fifth with two runs as Grady Pieratt opened the inning with a triple, followed by an Alexander Kavalick double to score one run. Bleasdale then singled to put runners on the corners before a Braylon Ryna sacrifice fly scored Kavalick, bringing Alma within one run. Alma was able to regain the lead in the eighth as Diaz opened the hitting with a double and scored two batters later on a Brady Vannest single, tying the game. An error later in the inning scored Preston Schroyer, who pinch ran for Vannest, and Pieratt, giving the Scots a 7-5 lead.
The Comets opened the game right back up in the bottom of the inning, batting around the lineup almost twice, and scoring 11 runs to put the Scots in run-rule territory trailing by nine.
The Scots looked to the ninth for a late game heroic comeback as Ryan reached first with a single and Warren was walked. Diaz scored the first run of the inning on a RBI double to left field, sending Ryan home. A wild pitch two batters later sent Warren across home plate for another run, bringing the Scots to nine runs. Charlie Chmielewski would draw a walk and steal second during the following at bat leading to a Pieratt single, scoring Diaz and Chmielewski for the Scots tenth and 11th runs, but the comeback would fall short there as the Scots dropped game two, 16-11.
Josh Soneral started on the bump for two innings and two strikeouts. Cade Sutherland made his first appearance on the mound for the season, pitching five scoreless with five whiffs. Josh West, Kaden Warren and Roman Forcia combined for an inning of work to round out the arms on the mound for Alma.
In the nightcap, the Scots looked to avoid a sweep and steal a game in the series to keep their conference record above .500 after slipping up the past two games. The Scots offense got to work early as Pieratt led game two off with a walk before Kavalick sent a ball out of the park for a two-run shot to take the early lead. Bleasdale followed behind with a single and advance to third on two ground outs before Diaz scored his teammate with an RBI single to right center. Diaz then scored right after on a Vannest triple, giving Alma a 4-0 lead through half an inning.
Alma increased their lead in the fourth Ryan captured his first collegiate home run with a deep ball over the right center wall, scoring himself and Bleasdale, who reached in an error earlier in the inning. Alma added another insurance run in the fifth as Sutherland was walked at the plate and advanced the third on wild pitches. Pieratt picked up another double, scoring Sutherland for a 7-0 lead.
Alma looked to put away the Comets early as another several runs came across the plate in the seventh, starting with a Sutherland triple to right center, then being drove in during the next at bat with a Pieratt single. Bleasdale followed behind with a double to left field, scoring Pieratt and Kavalick, who drew a walk.
Olivet was able to notch their first runs of the game, scoring three runs on a couple doubles in the seventh, leaving some hope in their dugout. Vannest and Ka. Warren singled in the eighth setting Sutherland up for an RBI single to score Vannest. A Pieratt double scored Warren and advanced Sutherland to third. A wild pitch would bring Sutherland across the plate and a sacrifice fly by Bleasdale would score Pieratt for the eighth inning's four runs, taking a 14-3 lead over the Comets.
Again, the Comets kept the game alive with a couple runs scored in the bottom of the inning on a home run, sending Alma back to bat in the ninth. A Ky. Warren double opened the ninth inning, followed by a Ka. Warren walk and a Sutherland single, scoring the older of the brothers. Pieratt drew a walk following the RBI single to load the bases for a Kavalick single to drive in the Scots final run of the game. Olivet threatened in the ninth for a comeback, but Alma was able to hold on and secure a game three victory.
Tyler Sparks led the action on the mound for Alma pitching seven innings and striking out six. Evan Litwiller saw an inning in relief while striking out two. Kenny Fistler and Tyler Lasley both combined for an inning and each recorded a strikeout.
Alma will now look towards a midweek matchup with the Flying Dutchmen of Hope College for their second of three single nine inning games. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 PM on Wednesday, April 8th, in Holland, Michigan.
