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by Anthony Sizemore, Student Sportswriter

Alice Lloyd squared off with the Asbury Eagles last week for a four-game series. Wilmore, Kentucky was the location for the games. What follows is a game-by-game review of the series.

 

Pitcher Wayne Sparks

Game 1

ALC 1

AU 7

ALC sent Neil Dillon to the mound for the series opener while Isaiah Bell started for Asbury. Alice Lloyd got on the board first with a run in the top of the second inning. Asbury responded with a run in the bottom half of the second.

The game stayed tied until the sixth inning. Asbury broke the game open for six runs, and ALC was unable to recover.

Greg Wright had ALC’s only RBI. Dillon pitched five and two-thirds innings, allowing 7 hits and 7 runs while striking out 4 batters. Chance Westerfield faced two batters pitching a third of an inning. The visitors hurt their own cause as they recorded four errors.

 

Game 2

ALC 6

AU 17

In game two of the series, Wayne Sparks got the nod as starting pitcher. Asbury countered with Zach Settle

Asbury jumped out to a 2-0 lead through one inning of play, but Alice Lloyd came back with four runs in the top of the second. AU answered with two more in the bottom to tie the game.

Like the first game, one bad inning killed ALC’s chances of a victory. This time, it was in the fourth as Asbury put up eleven runs. Zach Hancock, Cody Hyden,and Kevin Smith knocked home two runs apiece.

It was a tough start for the typically solid Sparks, as he went just three and two-thirds innings, surrendering 10 runs on 10 hits.

 

 

Game 3

ALC 8

AU 5

Alice Lloyd responded in a big way in game three.

Dylan Sullins took the mound for this one for ALC, while Logan Howard pitched for Asbury. AU scored one run in the first inning only to see ALC take the lead in the second with two. However, Asbury regained an advantage with two runs in the bottom of the second.

The visiting Eagles tied the score with a run in the third to make it 3-3, but Asbury brought in another two runs in the fourth. The back-and-forth affair continued as ALC tied the score, this time at 5-5 with two more runs coming home.

The seventh inning proved to be the difference. ALC was able to drive home three in the seventh and held off a rally by Asbury. Bobby Caldwell did all he could to propel his team to victory with 3 RBIs. Trae Minton had 2 while Cody Hyden and Kevin Smith continued their production with 1 in this contest. Sullins pitched six and one-third innings for the victory. He gave up 3 hits and 5 runs while recording 5 strikeouts. He also walked 7 batters. Aaron Boling got the last two outs to earn the save.

 

Game 4

ALC 2

AU 9

Aaron Boling would start this match-up for ALC while Asbury sent Chad Warner to the hill. Alice Lloyd got the early lead with one run in the top of the third but wasn’t able to hold it as Asbury brought home four in the bottom half.

The ALC Eagles got one in the top half of the fourth, but Asbury’s lead ballooned to 6-2 as they plated two more in the bottom of the inning. Asbury padded their cushion over the next two innings.

Brandon Arnold drove home one while Kevin Smith continued his hot hitting in this series with the other RBI. Boling didn’t allow any runs or hits, but only went two innings as he is returning from an injury. Mackenzie Hicks, Chance Westerfield, Daniel Burgess, and Tim Sublett pitched a combined four innings in relief. They surrendered 7 hits and 9 runs while walking 3 and striking out 3.