ADRIAN, Mich. – Returning to the turf early on Thursday morning, facing an elimination game in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association tournament, presented by Collegiate Credit Union, against the Albion College Britons, the Alma College baseball team looked to keep their postseason hopes alive. The Scots fell behind early 5-0 to the Britons but an influx on runs in the sixth and eighth innings brought the Scots an elimination game victory, keeping their season alive.
Pitchers again stole the show early on as hits were a premium to come by. Each pitcher recorded a handful of strikeouts in the first third of the game as Tyler Sparks notched five. Albion drew the first blood on the scoreboard as some base knocks placed runners on the corners, followed by an error from the Scots that allowed the Britons to score the first run of the game. Following two strikeouts, a hard-hit ball from Albion's Carter Stahl put the Scots in their largest deficit of the tournament as a three-run home run opened the game up in favor of the Britons.
The Scots threatened in the bottom of the third inning with runners on second and third, but were unable to scratch any runs across, but looked to use the momentum of gathering multiple hits in an inning moving forward. Alexander Kavalick used the momentum to record himself his 17th double of the season, tying Avery Carnicom's single season doubles record set in 2024, as Alma still looked for their first run. Albion's bats continued to make some noise throughout the first five innings, resulting in an additional run coming from a sacrifice fly before the sixth inning, as the Scots looked to mount a comeback down 5-0.
The sixth inning saw the Scots finally crack the code on the Britons pitching, sending three runs across before a pitching change occurred with zero outs. Grady Pieratt led the inning off with a double to center field, followed behind by a Giuseppe Sapienza single back at the pitcher. Kavalick, the MIAA Position Player of the Year, sent the Scots first run across as he reached first on an error, scoring Pieratt from third. Following a walk from Cole Grunwald to load the bases, Braylon Ryan sent a single through the right side, scoring Sapienza and Kavalick, bringing Alma within two with no outs and runners on the corners. Following the pitching change, a balk was called on the new Albion pitcher, scoring Grunwald to bring the Scots now within a solo run, still with zero outs. A single from Brady Vannest moved Ryan to third, before a Kyler Warren double scored the game tying run. Charlie Martyn, the next batter, was stuck by a pitch with a 2-2 count, loading the bases for Alma. Justin Diaz scratched across the Scots leading run as Alma took their first lead of the game on the sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Vannest from third, for a 6-5 lead. A full count walk was issued to Pieratt to again load the bases for Alma as the Britons searched for that crucial second out in the inning. Another sacrifice fly, this time from Sapienza, scored Warren from third, putting the Scots up 7-5, as Albion found the second out of the inning. The two outs would not make a difference as Kavalick stepped up to the plate, sending a deep ball into left center field for a two RBI triple, his third RBI of the inning which tied the program record at 53, set by Avery Carnicom in 2023, which scored Pieratt and Martyn. Alma ended the inning batting around the order and taking a four-run, 9-5 lead in the elimination game.
Albion was not going to go down easy though as the Britons, trailing by four, looked to lessen the deficit throughout the final several innings. Albion was able to plate a run in the bottom of the sixth as a hit by pitch and a ground out put a base runner on second. A single brought the Britons within three, as the Scots insurance runs started to dwindle. Another single was able to send an additional Britons run home, bringing the Scots lead down to two as both teams headed into the seventh inning.
A scoreless seventh inning paved way for the Scots in the eighth as a single from Martyn, a walk from Diaz and a bunt from Pieratt loaded the bases with zero outs. Sapienza helped the Scots put more insurance runs back on the board with a single to center field, scoring both Martyn and Diaz, putting the Scots back up four, 11-7. With runners on first and second, Kavalick stepped into the box and took sole possession of the program single season RBI record with a deep shot over the left field wall for a three-run home run, his second of the tournament. Following the record-breaking big hit, the Scots headed into the bottom of the inning leading 14-7.
After holding the Britons off the board, the remainder of the game, Alma moved along in the elimination bracket with a 14-7 win over the four-seeded Britons. Tyler Sparks was the Scots starter in the morning, pitching four innings and striking out a game-high six batters. Kenny Fistler saw mid game relief action for an inning and two-thirds before Evan Litwiller, who recorded his second save of the year, closed out the final three and a third innings, striking out two and only allowing two hits.
In between games the MIAA honored those who were named to the All-MIAA teams for the 2026 regular season. As noted above, junior first baseman Alexander Kavalick was named the MIAA Position Player of the Year as well as a first team selection while leading the conference in doubles as well. Kavalick was also second in hits (33), RBI (30) and third in OPS (1.116). Freshman Grady Pieratt was also named to the first team as an outfielder as he was crowned the MIAA batting champion for the regular season, holding an average of .467. The Scots also saw senior Cole Grunwald on the second team as a pitcher, sophomore Giuseppe Sapienza for utility, his second honor of his career, senior Cameron Bleasdale as an outfielder, also his second selection in his career, and freshman Braylon Ryan as an outfielder as well. Ryan also led the conference in RBI and triples for the regular season with 34 and three, respectively.
Awaiting their elimination game opponent, Adrian was able to squeak by Kalamazoo by a score of 2-1, setting up a rematch from game two of the tournament with the Hornets. Following a short break, both the Scots and Hornets took the field, with one team's tournament championship hopes coming to a close at the conclusion of the game.
Alma took the games important first lead of the game in the bottom of the first as Sapienza reached first on a single through the left side. Ryan collected the first RBI of the contest with a double to right field, scoring Sapienza from first to put Alma on top after one.
The game saw two scoreless innings until the fourth inning when the Hornets were able to use some small ball tactics to score a runner after a sacrifice bunt, tying the game at 1-1. The fifth inning saw the Hornets scrape one more running across coming from an error and a double, giving the Hornets the lead as the Scots trailed for the first time in the game.
Two more scoreless innings of ball from both teams came in the sixth and seventh, keeping a tight matchup down to the wire. Kalamazoo struck once again in the eighth on a two-out RBI double, driving in a run from a single the at bat before, hanging ahead of the Scots now by two runs.
The Scots headed into their final three outs of the tournament looking for a walk-off comeback bid. The Scots led the inning off with a Bleasdale single, followed by a Vannest hit by pitch, still with zero outs. Warren then laid down a sacrifice bunt to put both runners into scoring position with one out, looking to keep the game alive and championship aspirations in reach. Cole Grunwald, pinch hitting for Martyn, found himself reaching first after an error by the third baseman threw the first baseman off the bag, loading the bases and putting the winning run on first base. Pieratt, with a 1-2 count, sent a ball towards the shortstop, where the Hornets player overthrew second and allowed for two runs to score to tie the game, as well as the game-winning run to round third and create a play at the plate for the game. Grunwald, darting home, was able to beat the throw and score the game winning run from the error and walk-off Kalamazoo for the third time this season.
Cade Sutherland was given the nod for the start in the second elimination game of the day for the Scots, working for five innings and striking out three. Brady Sager saw an inning and a third of action on the mound, striking out one liking before Ryan Koob took over for a third of an inning. Tyler Lasley also pitched an inning of work, also striking out one looking before Kenny Fistler came in to close out the work on the mound for the Scots for one and a third innings of work. Fistler also picked up his second win of the day, moving to 3-3 on the season as well.
Alma will now return to Nicolay Field for a date with the host Bulldogs in the championship series, tomorrow, Friday May 8th, needing to win both to be crowned MIAA Tournament champions. First pitch of game one is set for 12:00 PM, with an if-needed game set for 30 minutes following the action of game one.
