Alice Lloyd Baseball plays host to Indiana Kokomo Cougars in three-game series

Pippa Passes, Ky: On March 8^th- 9^th, the Alice Lloyd College Eagles baseball team faced a solid Indiana University Kokomo Cougar squad. The visitors would end up taking the series in a sweep to move their record to 14-11 (4-2 RSC). ALC's record now stands at 9-13 (0-6 RSC).

Game 1

IU Kokomo-22; ALC-2

 In the opening inning, IUK displayed their power as they racked up 6 runs. In the very next inning, three more runners would reach home. Three massive home runs provided the majority of these, making the score 9-0.

The Pippa Passes posse dented the scoreboard in the third when first baseman Aaron Rothballer got involved in the home run derby by blasting a fast ball over the center field wall. However, that rally would fizzle out.

Two innings later, Kokomo would add a single score, then follow that up with a duo of runs. The tally now read 12-1.

ALC would strike one last time in the bottom of the inning. TJay Mullins singled, and later scored on a double from Cole Bishop (C), to make the score 12-2. Unfortunately, that would end the run production for the Eagles.

 The Cougars then resorted to the longball yet again to produce five runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. This would set the final score at 22-2.

For the day, ALC recorded 9 hits, with Rothballer and Cory Jefferson (2B) each registering a pair. Rothballer and Bishop provided the RBI's.

In the other dugout, Kokomo smacked 19 hits and knocked the cover off the ball, pummeling 6 homers and 4 doubles.

 On the mound, Jacob Ayers started and lasted 1.1 innings. He allowed 6 hits and 7 earned runs. Trenton Williams, came on for four innings, allowing 7 hits and 10 earned runs. Additionally, Layne Masters threw .2 innings, giving up 4 hits and 3 earned runs, while Lucas Combs faced the final six batters, giving up 2 hits and 2 runs.

Game 2

IU Kokomo-6; ALC-3

The second contest was much closer, but IUK held on for the win.

The visitors plated a solitary run in the opening inning with a single (1-0) only to see the Kentucky boys knot the score on Rothballers long flyball (1-1).

The Hoosier squad regained the lead on a single in the second (2-1), then extended it with a solo blast and double in the third (4-1).  Once again, ALC would respond.

In the bottom of the inning, Challen Massengill drove a sacrifice fly to bring in a run (4-2). Then, IUK aided the Eagle cause when a wild pitch allowed Jefferson to scamper home, and reduce the deficit to a single run (4-3). Unfortunately, with men on second and third, the Cougars managed to get out of the inning with their cushion still intact.

IU Kokomo then received a big insurance run in the fifth with a double (5-3). Then, in the seventh, a wild pitch permitted a Cougar to race home and give his crew a 6-3 lead.

Unfortunately, in the last two innings, ALC was unable to get the big hit they needed to achieve the comeback.

For the day, ALC recorded 4 hits compared to IUK's 11. Mullins provided half of them while Carson Tate (2B) lined a double. Rothballer and Massengill provided RBI's.

Dawson Beckett took the mound and went 4.1 innings. He gave up 10 hits and 5 earned runs with 3 strikeouts. Chase Conley pitched the remainder of the way, allowing just 1 hit and 1 run in 2.2 innings.

The victors committed 0 errors while the hosts had 1.

Game 3

IU Kokomo-13; ALC-2

IUK broke a close game open in the fourth inning to win in seven innings.

The visitors struck swiftly with single runs in both the first and second innings to jump ahead, 2-0. Then in the third, a two-run shot doubled their advantage, 4-0.

ALC had their best inning in the bottom of the third. In that segment, a single by Caleb Justice (3B) and double from Kyle Johnson (CF) place a pair of runners in scoring position. Then, when Tate drove a fast ball down the line, both men scored. The deficit was now sliced in half, 4-2.

Unfortunately, in the fifth, the Hoosier club would respond as they had all series long; with a big inning. This time, a double and two singles helped drive in five Cougars. Suddenly, the score read 9-2.

IU Kokomo then insured no comeback would be possible as they socked a two-run blast and two-run double in the sixth inning to add four scores to their tally. The scoreboard now read, 13-2, and it would remain that way until the final out was recorded.

For the day, ALC recorded 6 hits. Five different players registered 1 single apiece, while Tate had the only extra-base hit, and delivered both RBI's.

On the mound, Gibbs Cochran started and lasted 3.1 innings. He allowed 12 hits and 9 earned runs. He was followed by Sunny Smith, who gave up 3 hits and 4 runs in 2.2 innings of work. Matthew Hebar threw the final inning, allowing just 1 hit and striking out the other 3 men he faced.

The victors committed 0 errors while the hosts had 3. They also had 7 extra-base hits.