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by Gary Stepp

The Alice Lloyd Eagles baseball team played their first home contests of the season on Tuesday and Wednesday as they hosted Johnson University for a three game series.  The Eagles were victorious in the first two contests before dropping the final match. Below are recaps of each game.

 Jake Bales

March 17

Game 1

ALC-8; Johnson U-0

The Eagles bats were awake as the boys in blue and white scored 3 runs in the second inning and never looked back.  Designated Hitter Zach Hancock smacked three hits and added 2 RBI’s to pave the way. Shortstop Alex White, left fielder Ryne Loggins, and first baseman Jake Bales all added 2 hits apiece. Loggins and catcher Ronnie Saylor added 2 RBI’s each.

Pitcher Logan Condra threw 6 innings of 2-hit ball while Broderick Moore closed out the 7th.

 

Game 2

ALC-11; Johnson U-9

Trailing 9-8 entering the bottom of the 7th inning, the hosts produced 3 runs to win in comeback fashion.

Johnson University played well from the start as they rode a 6 run opening inning to chase Eagle pitcher Jake Weaver.

Fortunately, the Eagle bats started to connect and the hosts began to slice into the deficit. Right fielder Kevin Smith drove in the game winning runs with a double, as he finished with 3 hits and 4 huge RBI’s. Left fielder Austin Thompson added 3 hits and 3 RBI’s to the cause.

Pitcher Ryne Burrow tossed 4 innings of 4 hit ball in relief to earn the decision on the mound. He struck out 3 batters. Thompson and Jesse Hall also provided solid relief.

Trae Minton

March 18

ALC-3; Johnson U-2

The visitors managed to contain the Eagle bats for 7 innings, and then hung on to prevent a series sweep by the home club.

Johnson University scored 1 in the second and added 2 more in the third as they built a 3-0 lead.  On offense, the Eagles were unable to hit solid pitching from their opponents. JU threatened to blow the game open in the bottom of the fifth as they loaded the bases with only 1 out, but the home squad managed to get out of the inning unscathed

The score remained the same until the bottom of the eighth inning when ALC third baseman Greg Wright and right fielder Austin Thompson each smacked run scoring singles to shrink the lead to 3-2.

In need of a run in their final at bat, ALC had shortstop Austin White on base with two outs. On a hit, White tried to score the game tying run, but was called out at the plate. Wright and center fielder Trae Minton each had 2 of the Eagles 9 hits.

Pitcher Justin Smith suffered the loss on the mound.

The Eagles return to play on Saturday as they host conference rival Brescia University in a four game series over the weekend. The first pitch is scheduled for Saturday at high noon.