Alice Lloyd Baseball swats five homeruns, earn sweep over Grace Christian University

Pippa Passes, KY: The Alice Lloyd College Eagles baseball team (9-3) returned home on Saturday, March 8th, for a twin-bill against Grace Christian University, Michigan (3-5). The hosts wielded the big bats and took both games over the Tigers.

 March 8th

Game 1

Alice Lloyd - 12: - GCU - 4

The Eagles jumped ahead quickly and pulled away for the opening win.

ALC struck in the first inning when they used a trio of doubles from Kenneth Johnson (CF), Cory Jefferson (C), and Gage Hensley (LF) to produce 4 runs (4-0). They would follow up in the next inning by drawing a pair of walks, then watching Jefferson deliver both runners home with a single (6-0).

In the third, Grace looked to rally as they rapped 5 singles and a double to plate 4 runs of their own. Now the score stood 6-4.

In the Eagle half of the inning, after two groundouts, Brady Hall (1B) unloaded on a fastball and drove it over the left field fence to make the score 7-4.

The Tigers crept closer in the fifth, driving in a run on a fielder's choice (7-5). However, the Caney Creek clubbers put the contest away in the same inning. First, Aaron Rothballer (DH) led off with a blast over the left field wall to make it 8-4. Then, after a single and pair of walks loaded the bases, Diego Rodriguez (SS) connected on a pitch and sent it soaring over the center field fence to clear them once again. Suddenly, the scoreboard read 12-4, and the home team would close out the game from there.

At the plate, Jefferson, Rothballer, and Hensley would all rap 2 hits, with Hall, Rothballer, and Rodriquez each going yard. The squad also knocked 3 triples. Rodriguez (4) and Jefferson (3) would lead in RBIs.

On the mound, Dawson Beckett took the victory, allowing 5 runs on 9 hits through six innings.  Thomas Forehand closed the day by allowing only 1 hit in his inning of work.

Each squad had 10 hits, but ALC had 5 extra-base hits compared to the Tigers' 2. Both teams' players played error-free ball.

Game 2

Alice Lloyd: 10: GCU-1

The Tigers scored first, then watched the Bluegrass boys dominate from that point.

The Michigan squad singled and produced a run on a fielder's choice to lead 1-0. However, they would only hold that until the second when Pippa Passes pummeler Rothballer punished a fastball, sending it over the left field fence to tie the game, 1-1.

In the third, after the Grace pitcher struck an Eagle to put him on first, Challen Massengill (CF) laced a pitch over the left field fence to send the Eagles ahead, 3-1. That score would hold until the fifth. In that inning, a trio of singles layered around doubles from Rothballer and Hall to plate six big runs. Now, the score read 9-1.

Finally, in the sixth, after a Tiger error placed an Eastern Kentucky boy on base, Jefferson would deliver him home with a single to set the final score, 10-1.

At the plate, Massengill, Jefferson, and Rothballer all had 2 hits, with Rothballer's being a homerun and double. He also drove in 3 runs, while Massengill drove in 2.

On the mound,  Colton Lovlace tossed 3 innings of 2-hit ball, allowing just 1 run. He struck out 2. Jacob Ayers relieved the final 4 innings and gave up just 3 hits with 0 runs. He also whiffed 8 Tigers.

The Eagles won the hitting battle 9-5, leading in extra-base hits, 4-2. ALC won the error fight 1-2.