ALBION, Mich. – Entering the final day of the regular season for the Alma College baseball team, the boys traveled down to Albion College for a Friday doubleheader with the Britons, looking to keep their MIAA Regular Season title hopes alive. The Scots won the opening game of the day by a final score of 6-3, before being defeated in a close 4-2 game in the regular season finale.
The Britons set the pace early on the day, scoring in the opening inning, putting the Scots in a deficit, following their worst loss of the season the day prior. Alma was able to rebound and take their first lead of the game, two innings later in the third. The Scots led the inning off with a Kyler Warren single, followed right up by Kaden Warren reaching base from an error. A Justing Diaz bunt then loaded the bases for the Scots with no outs, setting the scene for Grady Pieratt. Pieratt would collect an RBI on a fielder's choice, scoring Ky. Warren to tie the game. Promptly following, Giuseppe Sapienza hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Ka. Warren, giving Alma their lead.
The Scots added another two runs in the fourth as Braylon Ryan led the inning off with a single to center field, followed by Brant Goodpaster taking a pitch to the body. Both base runners stole bases simultaneously in the next at bat before a Ky. Warren ground out would score Ryan from third. Shortly after, a throw down to third would be sailed by and allow for Goodpaster to score, putting the Scots up three, 4-1.
A solo run extended the lead in the fifth as Pieratt drew a walk before stealing second during the following at abt. Sapienza sent a single to right field, allowing for Pieratt to round third and reach home, adding onto the Scots lead. The Scots sixth run came in the sixth as Pieratt and Sapienza were walked earlier in the inning. An Alex Kavalick double to right center would score Pieratt before Sapienza was thrown out at home, giving Alma a 6-1 lead. The Bottom of the sixth saw the Britons plate their final two runs of the game as Alma would go on to take game one of the day, 6-3.
Tyler Sparks was the starter and winning pitcher on the day, improving to 6-0 on the season as he pitched five innings and struck out five. Evan Litwiller and Brady Sager came in for relief as Sager picked up the save for the final three innings of work, also striking out five.
Transitioning to the nightcap and the regular season finale, the Scots looked to take the series and hope for chaos for a chance at the regular season championship. Albion looked to play spoiler and head into the MIAA Tournament with some momentum as they qualified for the first time since 2019.
Again, the Britons jumped out to an early lead scratching across a couple runs in the opening inning on an RBI triple. Alma was able to tie the game at two apiece in the third as Sapienza led the inning off with a single, followed by a Kavalick double, to put runners on the corners with no outs. A Ryan ground out would score the first run for Alma as Sapienza made it home and Kavalick advanced to third. Two batters later, a Cameron Bleasdale single up the middle scored Kavalick, tying the game up. Albion would put the heat back on the Scots late in the game as a two RBI single gave the Britons the lead again in the bottom of the eighth, leaving the Scots with three outs to answer. Sapienza was able to put himself into scoring position in the ninth with a two out double, but the Scots would not be able to buy a comeback bid, dropping the nightcap, 4-2.
Cade Sutherland was the Scots guy to start on the mound for game two, piecing together six innings of work while collecting seven whiffs. Tyler Lasley and Kenny Fistler each saw in inning of relief action, both striking out one.
Alma will now await the final day of the MIAA regular season results tomorrow before knowing their seeding heading into the MIAA Tournament. Be sure to check almascots.com and the baseball schedule for updates to come the remainder of the weekend.
