Alice Lloyd Baseball splits four-game series with Grace Christian University

Kentwood, MI: The Alice Lloyd College Eagles baseball team returned to the field on Thursday and Saturday for a 4-game series against a Grace Christian University Tigers squad. The games were all close, and ended in a split.

April 24th

Game 1

Alice Lloyd-11; GCU-7

The hosts opened the contest by stroking a double to plate a quick run (1-0) , before ALC used a single and wild pitch to knot the score in the top of the second, 1-1.

In the top of the fourth, the Bluegrass boys saw Cory Jefferson (3B) smack a solo homer (2-1). Later, with a pair of runners on base, Cole Bishop (C) came through with a 3-run blast to make the score 5-1.

 In the very next inning, with two on base, Eagle Grover Maynard (LF) turned on a fast ball and belted a 3-run homerun to set the score 8-1. Then, Bishop strolled to the plate and promptly wacked his second homerun of the day. The inning would end with the Kentucky squad ahead, 11-1.

The Tigers would lace five hits and produce 5 runs in the fifth and 1 run in the sixth to cut the deficit to four, 11-7. However, they would get no closer as the guests would take the opener.

At the plate, Bishop finished 4-4 with 4 RBI's, 2 homers, and 2 runs scored while Jefferson, Maynard, and Dawson Beckett (DH) each added a pair of hits. Maynard added 3 RBI's.

On the mound, Jacob Ayers took the win. He went 5 innings giving up 6 runs on 10 hits with 3 strikeouts. Ryan Grubbs went the final 2 innings, allowing 2 hits and 1 run with 1 K.

Alice Lloyd prevailed in hits, 13-12, and committed less errors, 3-1.

Game 2

Alice Lloyd-3; GCU-6

The home club won in the nightcap.

The Tigers would take a 2-0 lead in the third, led by a double and single, but in the fifth, the Kentucky club would tie the contest, aided by a 2-run single from Diego Rodriguez (2-2).

Unfortunately, the Michigan crew would use a double and homer to gain 4 runs in the bottom of the inning, and pull ahead 6-2.

In their final chance, Carson Tate (2B) led off with a blast (6-3), but the rally died as the next three batters went down in order.

At the plate, Rodriguez, Tate, Beckett, and Gage Hensley (RF) each had 1 hit while Rodriguez delivered 2 RBI's.

On the mound, Trent Williams took the loss. He went 4.1 innings, giving up just 3 hits and 4 earned runs with 4 strikeouts. RJ Broome went the final 1.2 innings, giving up 1 hit and 1 earned run.

Both squads knocked 4 hits, but the Eagles had the games lone error.

  April 26th

Game 3

Alice Lloyd-8; GCU-9

A wild and wooly third game would start well for Grace Christian as a two-run homer in the second gave them an early lead, 2-0. ALC responded in the third.

In that inning, Eagle Jayden Huff (RF) would belt a two-run bomb to tie the score (2-2) Then after a hit-batsmen put a runner on first, Challen Massengill (CF) duplicated Huff's feat to give the Caney Creek crew a 4-2.

The Tigers earned a run back in the second (4-3), but later in the fifth, ALC's Huff teed off once more for a solo blast, 5-2. Then, with a teammate aboard, Bishop uncorked a bomb of his own, and the Kentucky men now led, 7-2. They added another score in the sixth when a trio of singles delivered a run with nobody out (8-2). However, the rally would die. No one in attendance realized just how much an extra-run would have meant to the Eagles.

Entering the final inning with a solid lead, the Bluegrass bombers appeared home-free, especially when the hosts had two outs and a lonely runner on first.  However, Grace responded by drilling back-to-back doubles and a single to get within two (8-6). Then, after the next batter singled yet again, a Tiger laced a pitch over the wall to shockingly knot the score at 8-8, and send the match into extra-innings.

In the top of the eighth, a one-out single from Rodriguez placed a speedster on base, but he was picked off. The next batter than grounded out to end the threat.

In the bottom of the eighth, a grounder was misplayed, resulting in a criticalEagle error. This allowed the Tiger runner to race all the way to third. Eventually, a long fly ball delivered him home, and the GCU comeback was complete.

At the plate, Huff, Bishop, Jefferson, and Rodriguez all had 2 hits while Huff's 3 RBIs led in that department.

On the mound, Dawson Beckett started and went 6.2 innings. He allowed 8 runs on 11 hits with 4 strikeouts. He was relieved by Hensley, who allowed 1 run while whiffing 1.

The victors won the hitting debate, 9-8, while ALC made the games lone error.

Game 4

Alice Lloyd-9; GCU-8

ALC held on to earn a split.

The scoring started swiftly when, both Bishop and Hensley stroked two-run blasts. An extra-run made the score 5-0, Alice Lloyd.

Grace made two of those up in the bottom-half with a shot of their own (5-2). Nothing changed until the ALC fifth, when, at that juncture, Alice Lloyd capitalized majorly. The visitors loaded the bags with a pair of outs and saw Huff promptly clear them with a clutch bomb. Suddenly, ALC led, 9-2, and the contest seemed over.

For the second straight day, GCU answered, getting a three-run shot to inch closer, 9-5. Then, a trio of runs would score, aided by an Eagle error and several singles. Fortunately for the Kentucky fans, with the tying run on third, a clutck strikeout ended the festivities.

At the plate, Rodriguez, Jefferson, Massengill, and Hensley all provided 2 hits with Huff recorded 4 RBI's.

On the mound, Cain Flynn was awarded the victory. He gave up 4 hits, 3 runs, and struck out 3 batters. He was relieved by Colton Lovelace for 0.2 innings. He allowed 3 hits and 3 runs, with 2 K's. Matthew Hebar took the save. In 0.1 innings of relief, he dished out 2 runs on 2 hits, with a solo K.

 The Eagles outhit their foes, 11-9, but 4 costly errors almost proved fatal.