Alice Lloyd baseball takes second straight sweep over Grace Christian

Pippa Passes, KY: The Alice Lloyd College Eagles baseball team (11-3) returned home on Monday, March 10th, for a twin-bill rematch against Grace Christian University, Michigan (3-7). The visitors put up a good challenge, but the Bluegrass boys answered to take both games over the Tigers.

 March 10th

Game 1

Alice Lloyd - 7: - GCU - 3

The Tigers took an early lead but watched the hosts rally for the opening win.

Pitching was solid early, as neither club would score for three innings. Then, at the top of the fourth, GCU used a fielder's choice and a timely single to plate a trio of runs and leap ahead, 3-0. ALC struck back in the bottom of the inning.

In that at-bat, Aaron Rothballer (DH) singled, then scored on a solid double off the bat of Cole Bishop (C) to eat into the deficit, 3-1. They would do more damage in their next at-bat.

In the fifth, the Eagles saw Kyle Johnson (CF) knock a double, Diego Rodriguez (SS) smacks a triple, and Cory Jefferson (3B) rap his own double. This would push ALC to a 4-3 advantage. They then put the game away in the sixth.

In the sixth inning, 3 singles, including run-scoring hits from Carson Tate (2B) and Jefferson, delivered another 3 runs. Now, the Pippa Passes posse led 7-3.

Down to their last chance, Grace saw their leadoff man draw a walk. However, the next batter hit into a double-play, and a pop-up ended the festivities.

At the plate, Jefferson and Challen Massengill (RF) would provide 2 hits each, with Tate providing 3 RBIs.

On the mound, Ryan Grubbs started, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits through four innings. Matthew Hebar came in and gave up just 2 hits and 0 runs in 2 innings to take the win. Gage Hensley closed the game with 1 hit and 0 runs to earn the save.

 ALC had a 10-5 hits advantage and played error-free ball. GC committed 2. 

Game 2

Alice Lloyd: 6: GCU-2

The Tigers scored first for the second straight game, but the hometown club overcame it once more and won the sweep.

The Michigan crew produced an immediate run on a long fly ball to lead 1-0. However, that would evaporate quickly when ALC's Rodriguez (2B) singled in a run in the bottom half to knot the score, 1-1.

In the Pippa Passes second, a pair of walks, followed by a nice single from Colton Lovelace (SS), loaded the bases. Johnson then singled in a pair of teammates to make the score 3-1.

In the bottom of the fourth, after a Lovelace double placed runners on 2nd and 3rd, Johnson would hit a long sacrifice fly to bring in an insurance run, 4-1.

In the fifth, the Tigers got help when Alice Lloyd committed an error to hand them a gift run (4-2), But the Caney Creek Clubbers would make amends.

In the same inning, a walk, Bishop single, and another walk loaded the bases once more. Then, Nathan Garcia (PH) singled to plate one Eagle (5-2). They would add another score when Brady Hall (1B) hit a long sacrifice to change the scoreboard once more.

In the seventh, now trailing 6-2, the Tigers went down to record a nice win for the Eagles.

At the plate, Lovelace led the club with 2 hits, while Johnson drove in 3 runs.

On the mound, Carson Tate took the victory, tossing 5 innings of 5-hit ball, allowing 2 runs. Cain Flynn relieved the final 2 innings and gave up just 1 hit with 0 runs. He also whiffed 3 Tigers.

The squads tied in hits, 6-6, and errors, 1-1.