Alice Lloyd College Lady Eagles Softball Hosts Rio Grande University in RSC Doubleheader

Pippa Passes, KY: The Alice Lloyd College Lady Eagles (5-13; 1-6 RSC) returned home on March 27th for a doubleheader with formidable River States Conference opponent, Rio Grande University (16-10; 6-2 RSC). For the day, the hosts would battle hard, but they had trouble with the bat, and the Red Storm would take the series.

March 27

GAME ONE

Rio-5; Alice Lloyd-1

The Ohio club took the series opener in extra-innings.

 In the first inning, RGU struck quickly with a score on a single (1-0). However, ALC responded in their second at-bat when Aspyn Branham (DH) unloaded on a fastball and parked it over the left-centerfield wall to knot the contest, 1-1.

From that point, pitching dominated the affair as neither squad could gain any more runs.  The Lady Eagles had a great opportunity in the bottom of the seventh when Lyndsey Adkins (1B) led off things with a double. Unfortunately, she would remain stranded on base as the Pippa Passes crew could not get the one clutch hit they desperately needed, and the contest would go to extra-innings.

Finally, in extra-play, RGU brought the game home. They would use an error and two doubles to gain 4 runs (5-1). They would then slam the door shut in the Eagle eighth to seal the victory.

At the plate, Branham had the homerun and only RBI, while Adkins and Maleigh McDaniel (SS) both smacked doubles.  

On the mound, Baylee Cox (P) deserved a far-better fate as she went 7.1 innings, allowing 6 hits and 4 earned runs in taking the loss. She gave up 5 walks and struck out 2 batters. Kursten Napier (P) pitched to the final three batters, giving up 1 hit and 0 runs.

Rio won the hitting battle, 7-5, and ALC committed the game's lone error.  

GAME TWO

Rio-13; Alice Lloyd-2

The Pippa Passes ladies started well but then saw their bats go silent once more as they dropped the second contest in five innings.

Rio got out of the gate quickly in the first inning as a single and double led to 3 quick scores (3-0). A response from the Eagles quickly followed.

In the ALC opening at-bat, an Adkins double, followed by a grounder, produced a couple of runs. Now, the score read 3-2.

However, the Red Storm gained those runs right back in the second with a single and ground ball of their own (5-2). They then broke away in the third.

In that inning, a triple, a double, and an error brought 4 runs across the plate. Suddenly, RG led 9-2.

The victory was assured in the fifth when RGU gained 4 runs, with 3 of them resulting from a shot over the left field fence. Rio then closed the night out in five innings to take the sweep.

For ALC, Mckenzie Orfield had 2 singles while Adkins, and Mcdaniel both had 1 RBI.

Pitcher Mcdaniel started on the mound. She went 2.2 innings, and gave up 12 hits, and 8 earned runs. She whiffed 2 batters. Haley Howell (P) allowed 3 hits and 1 run in 1.1 innings. Carly Creech allowed 4 runs while Orfield gave up 0.

ALC lost the hitting battle 18-4, and committed 2 errors compared to the Red Storms' 1.