ADRIAN, Mich. – On a sunny Friday afternoon, the Alma College baseball team returned to Nicolay field for a chance at the programs first MIAA Tournament championship, taking the field against the host and top-seeded Adrian College Bulldogs. The Scots, riding high with momentum following two wins the day prior, including a walk-off win to send them to the championship, looked to use the momentum to propel them to an "If" game with the undefeated Bulldogs in tournament play. The Scots fell victim to an early striking offense from Adrian, falling in the final game of the tournament by a final score of 8-3.
The Bulldogs were able to put up five runs in the bottom of the first inning, putting the Scots in an early hole, one that this team has showed that they can climb out of wherever throughout the game. The Scots looked as if they were going to pull within a couple runs in the third inning as back-to-back singles from Charlie Martyn and Justin Diaz put runners on with no outs. A ground out as the lineup turned over advanced both runners into scoring position, following the first out. Giuseppe Sapienza drove in the Scots first run as he also grounded out to the center of the infield, scoring Martyn and putting the Scots on the board.
Adrian tacked on two runs in the fourth and another solo run in the fifth to increase their lead to seven, still with a lot of ball game left to play. The Scots next runs came in the eighth as Diaz got the scoring started with a solo home run to left field, bringing life and momentum back to the Alma dugout. Grady Pieratt followed up the big hit with a double as Sapienza was up next. Sapienza added another RBI with a single through the left side, scoring Pieratt from second to give the Scots their third run of the game.
Solid defensive plays from the Bulldogs was the storyline all day as the hosts found ways to get outs on defense and make the Scots work hard to score. Alma threatened in the ninth with base runners, but the Bulldogs would take care of business and end the Scots chances at a tournament championship.
Kaden Warren was the Scots starter for the championship series game, striking out one. Tyler Lasley and Ryan Koob came in for four and two-thirds innings of work combined, while Lasley struck out three and Koob collected one. Josh West saw the final three innings of work, striking out one and allowing two hits.
Alma's 28 wins on the season ties the program record for wins in a season. Numerous records were broken and rewritten throughout the storied season as well.
Alma will now await to see if they will receive an "at large" bid to the NCAA National Tournament, needing help from other teams and conferences around the nation as their fate lies in the hands of others.
