Alice Lloyd Baseball hosts Rio Grande University for Senior Day series

Pippa Passes, KY: On April 13^th-14th, the Alice Lloyd College Eagles baseball team played host to Buckeye state foe Rio Grande University in a three-game series. The blue and white would battle intently before falling in a sweep. Their record now stands at 16-27 (3-18 RSC), while RGU sits at 17-25 (9-12 RSC).

Game 1

RGU-6; ALC-2

The Eagles earned the first runs of the game. In the second, they would load the bases and score a run on a grounder (1-0). Then in the third, a wild pitch would deliver another man home (2-0).

In the fourth, RGU would use a double and triple to deliver a big four-spot. Now the visitors led, 4-2.

The Red Storm would add to their advantage in the sixth when a double would bring two insurance runs across the plate. This pushed the Ohio clubs lead to 6-2.

Alice Lloyd had opportunities to shrink the deficit. In their half of the seventh, they would load the bases with nobody out. Unfortunately, a double-play grounder and strikeout would squash that threat.

Then in the seventh, TJay Mullins (LF) would smack a double, but he remained stranded on base. Finally, in the eighth, they would place the leadoff runner on first, but once again, a double-play grounder would end the rally. Rio then retired the side in order to take the contest.

For the day, ALC recorded 6 hits, with Mullins and Caleb Justice both rapping a pair.

 On the mound, Dawson Beckett started and suffered the loss. He allowed 9 hits and 6 earned runs with 5 strikeouts in six innings of work.

In relief, Chase Conley went three innings, allowing just 2 hits.

In the other dugout, SSU won the hitting battle 11- 6 and committing less errors, 2-1. The hosts hurt themselves by leaving 9 runners stranded on base.

Game 2

RGU-13; ALC-8

In the first inning, the visitors came out swinging, utilizing a pair of doubles and a single to bag four runs (4-0). However, the Pippa Passes club would immediately respond. Carson Tate (SS) and Naylen Turner (2B) led off their half of the inning with singles, then walked home when Mullins drove a fast ball over the center field fence to make the score, 4-3.

Rio gained a run in the second, using a walk and single to earn the score (5-3). ALC then tied the contest in the bottom of the second when, after a Turner single, Joey Johnson (RF) delivered him home with a single of his own. The game was now tied once again at 5-5.

The Caney Creek crew pulled ahead in the fifth when Aaron Rothballer blasted a homer to put his mates ahead, 6-5. They would hold it until the later innings.

In the seventh RG tied the contest with a double (6-6). They then took the lead in the next inning, laying out a trio of singles to vault ahead, 9-6.

In the final inning, the Red Storm blew the game open with four runs produced by four more hits (13-6). The Eagles tried to bounce back in their last opportunity when Johnson blasted a triple to eat into the deficit. The hosts would plate two runs (13-8), but back-to-back ground outs ended the game.

For the day, ALC recorded 12 hits (with a pair of homers) compared to RGU's 14 hits. Johnson had 3 while Tate, Turner, Mullins and Rothballer each had 2. Mullins and Rothballer both had 3 RBI's.

Gibbs Cochran started on the mound. He went 7 innings, allowing 9 hits and 6 earned runs with 3 KO's and 2 walks.

Jacob Ayers and Tyler Brammer relieved. Ayers took the loss, as he gave up 4 hits and 5 runs in 1.1 innings. Brammer allowed 1 hit in .2 innings.

ALC committed one more error (2-1) and left 7 runners on base.

Game 3

RGU-10; ALC-3

Rio got on the board in the second, aided by an Eagle error (1-0). They added to their total in the third when a fielders choice sent another man home for a 2-0 advantage. The hosts soon responded.

In the bottom of the third, after a double by Tate, and an intentional walk to Mullins, Johnson brought them both home with a hit to knot the score at 2-2.

In the Eagle fourth, Justice opened with a double, and was brought home by a single from Beckett (1B), to give the Caney Creek crew a 3-2 advantage.

The score would remain the same until the final inning. In need of three outs to seal the win, ALC saw the Red Storm exploded as everything that could go wrong did for the hosts.

Limited to just four hits through six innings, RGU uncorked ten hits in a massive nine-run blitz. They would roll off three doubles and seven singles to explode to a 11-3 advantage.

Stunned by the sudden turn of events, Alice Lloyd would quickly go down in order to end the day.

For the contest, ALC recorded 5 hits with Tate and Justice lacing doubles and Johnson delivering 2 RBI's.

On the mound,  Sunny Smith suffered the tough loss. He threw six innings, allowing 6 hits and 3 earned runs with 2 strikeouts and 1 walk. Trenton Williams relieved 0.2 innings, giving up 4 hits and 3 runs with 1 KO, while Matthew Hebar allowed 4 hits and 1 earned run in 0.1 innings, striking out the final batter.

The victors recorded 14 hits and saw ALC hurt themselves with 4 crucial errors.