Alice Lloyd Baseball battles Bob Jones University for three contests

Kingsport, TN: The Alice Lloyd College Eagles baseball team (11- 5) traveled to Hunter Wright Stadium in Kingsport, Tennessee, to take on Bob Jones University in the Battle of the Smokies (6-15). The two clubs would play three contests over two days, with the SC crew taking the series 2 -1.

March 14th

Game 1

Alice Lloyd-9; Bob Jones-10

The Eagles dropped the opener in a 10-inning thriller. 

The Bruins struck in the second when a single would plate a pair on runs (2-1). The Eagles would slice that in half in the next inning as Jayden Huff  (RF) singled, then came around to score on Kyle Johnson's (CF) hit to left field (2-1).

The Pippa Passes posse did damage in the fourth as a pair of singles, plus a triple from Huff, delivered a trio of scores. This gave the Bluegrass boys a lead, 4-2. Then in the fifth, they would jump ahead 6-2 after a trio of singles, including a 2-RBI hit from Cory Jefferson (3B) delivered the goods.

Bob Jones would make a run back in the sixth when they rapped a double (6-3), but they completely changed the momentum in the seventh. In that inning, they utilized a pair of singles and a double, then combined that with a pair of crucial Eagle errors to explode for six runs. Now, the South Carolina club led 9-6.

In the Caney Creek eighth, with two outs, a pair of walks, plus clutch singles from Caleb Justice (1B), Johnson led to 2 runs and made the score 9-8. Then, in the ninth, needing a score to keep playing, the Pippa Passes posse tied the contest when, after the first two batters popped out, Aaron Rothballer (DH) turned on a fastball and smashed it over the left field wall to tie the game, 9-9. The next batter walked, but an infield popup sent the game to extra innings.

In the top of the tenth, the Bruins used a walk and a pair of groundouts to advance the runner to third. Then, their next batter hit a two-out grounder into right field to give his squad a 10-9 advantage. Once again, needing a score to prolong the festivities, the Kentucky men would place a pair of runners on base with two outs. Knowing a hit could tie the match or give ALC the win, the BJU pitcher induced the next batter into a groundout to second base, ending the contest.

At the plate, Johnson came up big with 3 hits while Huff, Gage Hensley (LF), and Diego Rodriguez (SS) each added 2 hits to the cause. Johnson and Jefferson both knocked in 2 runs.

On the mound, Dawson Beckett started and went six innings. He allowed 4 hits and 3 earned runs with 1 strikeout. He was relieved by Colton Lovelace (0.2 innings, 6 runs, 2 hits), Trenton Williams (3 innings, 2 hits, 1 earned run, 1 strikeout), and Matthew Hebar (0.1 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs).

ALC prevailed in hits, 14-8, but hurt themselves with 2 important errors. 

March 15th

Game 2

Alice Lloyd-10 ; Bob Jones-6

The Eagles rode a massive third inning to take the second game. 

The South Carolina club jumped out of the gates quickly, using a pair of singles and an Eagle error to score 3 runs (3-0).

ALC answered in the bottom of the second inning utilizing 4 singles, including run producers from Johnson and Rodriquez, to make the score 3-2. The next inning would see the floodgates open.

In the bottom of the third, the Bear pitcher walked three, gave up a pair of singles, and tossed two wild pitches. Then, Challen Massengill (RF) and Jefferson delivered back-to-back doubles. When the third out was finally recorded, ALC led 9-3.

Bob Jones would eat into the deficit in the fifth when an error and triple led to 3 runners scoring. ALC now led 9-6. In the bottom half of the sixth, BJU gifted the Caney Creek crew a run when they threw a wild pitch (10-6), and the Bluegrass boys would close out the seventh inning to salt the game away.

At the plate, Johnson and Jefferson both stroked 2 hits. Johnson delivered 3 RBIs, while Rodriguez and Massengill each produced 2.

On the mound, Hensley started the game and took the win. He went 4.2 innings, allowing 8 hits and 5 earned runs with 5 Ks. He was relieved by Jacob Ayers, who was solid in 2.1 innings. He allowed just 1 hit and whiffed 5 batters.

The visitors outhit the Eagles 9-8, and ALC overcame 3 costly errors to take the contest.

Game 3

Alice Lloyd- 0; Bob Jones- 9

The Bears club would fall behind in the first, before reversing the script from the earlier game to take the win.

The Kentucky boys scored first on a single from Eric Lasso (3B). However, Bob Jones would respond big in the second.

In that inning, the South Carolina crew would use 4 singles, 2 Eagle errors, and a big triple to plate 6 scores and race ahead, 6-1.

The mountain men would gain 1 run in their next at-bat when Zach Morris (1B) doubled to left-center (6-2).  However, the Bears made that right back in their next-at-bat with a double (7-2), then singled in another score in the fifth to move ahead, 8-2.

The Pippa Passes posse tried to start a rally in the sixth when Rothballer led off the inning with a blast over the left-field wall (8-3), but that rally would fizzle out. Bob Jones then made it back in the seventh, courtesy of consecutive singles. ALC then went down in order to hand the Palmetto State club the series.

At the plate, Johnson came up big with 3 hits while Huff, Gage Hensley (LF), and Diego Rodriguez (SS) each added 2 hits to the cause. Johnson and Jefferson both knocked in 2 runs.

 On the mound, Ryan Grubbs had a tough outing, allowing 9 hits and 5 earned runs in 3.2 innings. He was relieved by Connor Caudill (1.1 innings, 1 runs, 2 hits), Thomas Forehand (1.1 innings, 0 hits, 1 strikeout) and Austyn Collins (1 inning, 2 hits, 1 run).

The Eagles were outhit 13-8 and committed the game's only 2 errors.