ALC Eagles Baseball earn home sweep over Grace Christian University

Pippa Passes, KY: The Alice Lloyd College Eagles baseball team returned home on February 21^st to face the Grace Christian Tigers in a 4-game series spread out over three days. When the dust had settled, the Caney Creek clubbers would walk away with the impressive sweep. ALC's record now moves to 7-6, while the Michigan crew now sits at 2-10.

Game 1

Alice Lloyd-14; GCU-3

In the first contest, the Eagles opened the day with a run (1-0) off a sacrifice fly from TJay Mullins (LF). Little did the Tigers realize he was just warming-up.

In the ALC second, with two on base, Kyle Johnson (CF) doubled to score both (3-0). Later, after a sacrifice fly drove in another run (4-0), Mullins delivered a crushing blow over the left-centerfield fence. The hosts now led 6-0.

Grace scored their first run in the third with a sacrifice fly (6-1), only to witness the hometown club break the game open in the bottom of the inning.

In the bottom of the third, singles from Cole Bishop (C), Caleb Justice (3B) and Diego Rodriguez, (SS) in addition to a sacrifice fly, all delivered scores (10-0). Then, after the Tigers made a pitching change, Mullin pummeled the first pitch thrown over the left-centerfield wall for two more scores (12-0).

The final Eagle runs scored on consecutive doubles from Justice and Cory Jefferson (2B) which pulled them ahead 14-1. Grace Christian produced a couple of runs in their final at bat (14-3), but that would prove to-little-to-late.

The Caney Creek boys registered 13 hits on the day compared to Grace's 8. They also committed 1 error compared to the Tigers 3.

Justice led the way with 3 hits while Mullins and K. Johnson both knocked two apiece. Mullins came through with 5 RBI's

On the mound, Jaycob Ayers earned the victory. He threw 6 innings, giving up only 5 hits and 1 run with 7 K's.

Game 2

Alice Lloyd-7; GCU-3

In this contest, the visitors dented the scoreboard first, using back-to-back homeruns to jump ahead, 2-0.

Alice Lloyd answered in the same inning when they used a walk, a triple from Wyatt Hobgood (C) and a double from Jefferson, to score 4 runs (4-2).

Grace sliced a run off that deficit in the second (4-3), only to see the Kentucky boys earn that back on a Joey Johnson (RF) single (5-3).

In the sixth inning, ALC plated a couple of insurance runs when Mullins doubled in a run (6-3), then scored himself on a grounder (7-3).  The Michigan squad then went down quietly in their final at-bat.

The Eagles registered 5 hits for the game with Hobgood rapping two of those and 2 RBI's.

On the mound, Gibbs Cochran settled down after giving up the early homers to only allow three hits the remainder of the way. In 7 innings, he allowed just 5 hits and 2 earned runs. He added 4 strikeouts.

Both squads produced 5 hits while ALC had fewer errors, 2-1.

Game 3

Alice Lloyd-7; GCU-4

The Tigers jumped out to a 4-0 lead. They scored a run in the first with a single and added a trio of runs in the second, strengthened by consecutive doubles (4-0).

In the bottom of the second, ALC cut that in half, plating their first score on a wild pitch (4-1), and a second on a Justice single (4-2).

 In the third, they would tie things. First, Mullins uncorked his third homer of the series to left-center (4-3). Then, the next batter Aaron Rothballer (DH) socked a homerun of his own to knot things at 4-4.

The contest remained unchanged until the fifth. In that inning, the hosts loaded the bases. Then Bishop promptly cleared them when he stroked a triple (7-4). Alice Lloyd then clamped down on defense to preserve the victory.

Both clubs registered 8 hits on the day with Mullins, Justice, and Bishop gaining two apiece, and Bishop driving in 3 runs.

On the mound, Chase Conley started, tossing 1.2 innings. He allowed 7 hits and 4 runs. JT Griswold then came on in relief to earn the "W". He allowed just 1 hit and no runs in four sharp innings, with 4 K's.

Cain Flynn and Smith closed the contest. In a combined 1.1 innings, they whiffed 3 batters and allowed 0 hits.

Game 4

Alice Lloyd-10; GCU-8

The Tigers jumped out to a 1-0 lead right out of the gate when a grounder drove in the first run (1-0). However, with two on base in the Eagle first, Rothballer singled up the middle to drive both in (2-1).

In the fourth, Grace Christian regained the lead when an error by the hosts permitted a duo of runners to roar across home (3-2). However, they would return the favor in a big way.

 In their half of the inning, ALC would load the bases. GC then aided the Pippa Passes cause greatly when they proceeded to hit the batter, issue a walk, hit another batter, and incredibly, hit one more batter. Suddenly, Alice Lloyd led 6-3.

The Kentucky club was not through. The next batter was Jefferson, and he promptly laced a single to plate two of his buddies (8-3).

Then, in the fifth, with a runner on base, K. Johnson drove a fastball over the left field fence. Now the host lead was up to seven (9-3), and they appeared home free. Unfortunately, the Tigers had different plans.

In the top of the sixth. the visitors loaded the bases. They then used a hit batsman and three big singles to produce 6 runs. Just like that, the Eagle lead was reduced to one, at 9-8.

In their next at bat, the blue and white placed a runner on base. Bishop promptly lined a single to provide the crucial insurance run (10-8).

Now, just needing three outs to preserve the win, the Eagle pitchers delivered the goods to seal the sweep.

Both clubs registered 10 hits on the day with Jefferson delivering 3 hits and 2 RBI's. Rothballer led the way with 3 RBI's.

On the mound, Beckett threw 5.1 innings, allowing 6 hits and 3 earned runs, with 4 strikeouts. Tyler Brammer, Trenton Williams and Smith all threw in relief.

ALC committed 2 costly errors, but were fortunate to overcome those.