Alice Lloyd softball earns split at Miami-Hamilton

Fairfield, OH:  On March 3rd, the Alice Lloyd College Lady Eagles softball team journeyed to the Buckeye State to face the Miami University-Hamilton Harriers in a twin-bill. The hosts would take the opener 10-5 before the Lady Eagles came back to take the second contest, 12-7. This raises their record to 9-5 while MH sits at 1-1.

Game 1

Alice Lloyd-5; Miami-10

The Lady Eagles were never able to get a rally going as they dropped the opener.

ALC did strike in the first inning when Aspyn Branham (3B) lined a single to plate a run (1-0). However, the Harriers responded by using a two-run single and walk to deliver three runs (3-1).

The Caney Creek crew earned one of those back in the third when Branham smacked a run-producing double (3-2), only to see MH put up a two-spot with a double of their own (5-2).

In the fourth, the Ohio squad would rap another two-run double to keep the momentum in their favor. They now led 7-2.

The Bluegrass ladies attempted to rally in the sixth. An error by the hosts brought in one score, then, Rachel Rife (LF) laced a two-run single. Now, they only trailed, 7-5.

Unfortunately, Miami got all of those runs back in the bottom of the inning with a big double and single. This doubled their lead at 10-5.

Down to the last inning, MH then closed the game out by only allowing a walk in the seventh before retiring the final batters.

Branham and Rife led the way at the plate for Alice Lloyd with 2 hits and 2 RBI's apiece.

Maleigh McDaniel (P) started on the mound and went three innings. She allowed 8 hits and 5 runs, with 6 strikeouts. She was relieved by Rylee Cox, who gave up 4 hits and 5 runs with 2 whiffs in her two innings of work. Kinna Justice tossed the final inning, giving up a single and striking out 1.

M-Hamilton won the hitting battle, 13-6 and ALC had the games lone error. Both squads registered 2 steals.

GAME 2

Alice Lloyd- 12; Miami-7

ALC jumped out of the gates strong and held on to earn a split for the series.

The Kentucky squad started out well, as a pair of walks and a Rife single quickly loaded the bases. Another walk then brought in the first score (1-0).

Next, a hit batter, followed by a nice single from Carlee Muncy (1B) delivered a pair of runs (3-0). Finally, a second hit batter handed ALC a 4-0 lead before Miami got out of the inning.

M-Hamilton singled in a lone run in their opening at bat to make the score 4-1, only to see the Lady Eagles gain it right back in the second on a run-producing single from pitcher Kirsten Vice (5-1).

In the bottom of the second, the contest tightened as the Ohio squad utilized a walk and homerun to bring a trio of runners across home plate. Now, the lead had shrunk to one, 5-4.

Fortunately, the Pippa Passes posse immediately responded. In the third, a Muncy double and Rife sacrifice fly bumped the advantage back to three, 7-4. Miami only scored a single run in their next at bat, as a walk sliced the score to 7-5.

The fourth inning was huge as ALC received a two-run single from Mackenzie Newport (RF) and single from Rife to deliver three big runs (10-5). They then grabbed insurances runs in each of the next two innings, delivered by a wild pitch and long fly ball. Now, the score read 12-5.

Down to their final opportunity, the Buckeye bunch could only muster a single score before a line drive to third delivered the game in the win column for Alice Lloyd.

For the victors, Vice smashed 3 hits while Rife, Muncy and Ellie Keene (CF) all contributed 2. Newport drove in 3 RBI's while Rife added 2.

On the mound, Vice took the win, allowing 9 hits, but just 2 earned runs, in 5 innings. She punched out 4 batters. Carly Creech earned the save in relief, throwing the final two innings and giving up just 2 hits and 1 earned run.

The Lady Eagles held a slight edge in hits (12-11) and both squads committed 2 errors. ALC dominated in stolen bases, 8-2, which proved valuable.