Alice Lloyd Baseball faces division-leading Point Park University in three-game series

Pittsburg, PA: On April 20^th-21st, the Alice Lloyd College Eagles baseball team journeyed to Pennsylvania to face the highly regarded Point Park University Pioneers in a three-game showdown. The big city club showed why they have earned their division-leading ranking as they won in a sweep. ALC now stands at 16-31 (3-21 RSC), while PPU reigns on top at 32-12 (19-5 RSC).

Game 1

PPU-8; ALC-0

The hosts scored the first run of the game in the second on a solo blast (1-0). This score remained unchanged until the bottom of the fifth inning when both pitchers performed well.

However, in the fifth, PPU broke the game open. The home team would utilize a two-run double and a pair of singles to gain four runs. Suddenly, the Pioneers led 5-1.

The Pittsburg club added a score in the sixth on another double (6-0) and then brought home a two-spot in the eighth with their fourth double of the game. The scoreboard now read 8-0.

In the meantime, ALC was never able to mount a comeback, as their bats remained under lock and key until the final out was recorded.

For the day, ALC recorded just 3 hits, with Cory Jefferson (2B), Kyle Rothballer (DH), and Kyle Johnson each lining singles.

 On the mound, Gibbs Cochran started and suffered the loss. He allowed 12 hits and 6 earned runs with 3 strikeouts in 6 innings of work.

In relief, Cain Flynn pitched a scoreless 7^th inning with a pair of K's while Matthew Hebar permitted 1 hit and 2 runs in the final inning.

Point Park would take the hitting battle 13-3 and commit just 1 error, compared to 3 by the Eagles.  

Game 2

PPU-10; ALC-0

In the first inning, the hosts came out of the dugout swinging, riding a pair of singles to gain a 2-0 lead. Then, in the second, a double and two-run blast to center field would gain them a trio of runs. PPU swiftly led 5-0.

In the third, the Pioneers would see a pair of singles and long double pay dividends, as four more men raced across the plate. Suddenly after three innings of action, the city-club led 9-0.

PPU would ride the double-train once again in the fifth, using a shot down the line to gain a run and extend the lead to 10-0.

In the meantime, during the same stretch, ALC would have their opportunities. On three different occasions, they would place two runners on base and just need a well-placed hit to change the momentum. Unfortunately, Point Park found a way to get out every inning unscathed.

Over the final two innings, the Caney Creek crew would place one final runner on first, but he would remain stranded as the contest soon ended in PPU's favor.

For the day, ALC recorded 8 hits with Jefferson going a perfect 3-3 and Carson Tate (SS) finishing 2-3. Unfortunately, that would not lead to any runs.

Dawson Beckett started on the mound and suffered the loss. He went 2 innings, allowing 4 hits and 5 earned runs with 1 KO and 4 walks.

Trenton Williams pitched three innings and gave up four earned runs, while Ryan Cozart came on for the final three innings and allowed three hits and just one run. He struck out three Pioneer batters.

The victors took the hitting battle by only two, 10-8. The Eagles committed the lone error of the day and left 7 runners on base. 

Game 3

PPU-22; ALC-0

The Pittsburg club exploded from the first pitch, using a homer and four singles to pull out 5-0. They followed it up in the next inning with another homer to jump ahead 7-0.

The third inning brought the explosion as PPU rode back-to-back blasts to fuel a nine-run blitz. After three innings of play, Point Park now led 16-0.

They added another run in the fourth with a single (17-0) before utilizing home runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to gain five more scores. The sixth inning ended with the Big City squad leading 22-0, which would prove to be the final score.

For the contest, ALC had a tough day. Dawson Beckett (1B) lined a single in the second inning. However, he would be the only Eagle to reach base as PPU pitching handcuffed the Pippa Passes crew the entire way.

Sunny Smith suffered the loss on the mound. He threw two innings, allowing 8 hits and 7 earned runs with 1 strikeout. Chase Conley appeared for 0.1 innings and gave up 6 hits and 7 runs, while Josiah Griswold allowed 8 hits and 5 runs in 3.2 innings, striking out seven batters.

The victors recorded 22 hits compared to the Eagles 1. ALC hurt themselves with 3 errors.