Pippa Passes, KY: The NCCAA Mideast Regional Alice Lloyd College Lady Eagles hosted NAIA foe Bluefield College on February 26th in a doubleheader. Following are recaps of each contest.
Jada Estep
GAME 1
BU – 11 Alice Lloyd – 3
The visiting Rams jumped out to a 6-0 lead and rode four home runs to earn the victory.
Asbury opened up the scoring with 3 runs in first on a blast to left field.
The hosts would answer with 2 runs of their own in the bottom of the second inning to shrink the deficit to 6-2.
Trailing 9-2 in the bottom of the fourth, the hosts would gain another run on a home run, courtesy of freshman Haley Howell. Unfortunately, the rally ended and the deficit was too much to overcome.
For ALC, junior Maidisson Minks and freshmen Alyssa Clark and each had 2 hits and 1 stolen base with Minks adding 1 RBI. Junior Samantha Sturgill added a single to the cause.
Lexi Harmon got the start for Bluefield College. She surrendered three runs on five hits over four innings, striking out two.
Mercedez Gilliam was on the mound for Alice Lloyd. She surrendered four runs on four hits over two and two-thirds innings, striking out one. Haley Howell threw three and a third innings in relief.
The Rams won the hitting battle, 14-6.
GAME 2
BU-11; Alice Lloyd- 4
ALC looked solid at the start as they grabbed an early lead, but unfortunately, they could not hold it in the later innings.
The hosts jumped out of the gates quickly as freshmen Alyssa Clark singled to score one run. Later, fellow freshman Abigail Stambaugh added a double as a total of 3 runs crossed the plate
Alice Lloyd would then score an insurance run in the second to lead 4-0.
In the fourth, the Lady Eagles would load the bases, but unfortunately, they were denied any runs. This would come back to hurt.
Trailing 4-0 heading into the fifth, BU unleashed a big 5 run inning to pull ahead 5-4. They would then put the contest out of reach with 6 runs over the final two innings.
For the hosts, Clark rapped 3 hits while Stambaugh and junior Madison Gaines each had 2 apiece.
Junior Samantha Robinson, along with sophomores Jada Estep and Morgan Robinson each provided a single to the cause.
Laken Sparks was the winning pitcher for Bluefield College. She went seven innings, allowing four runs on ten hits and striking out seven.
Mckenzie Brewer suffered the defeat. She went four and two-thirds innings, allowing five runs on nine hits, striking out one and walking one. Mercedez Gilliam and Haley Howell entered the game in relief, throwing two innings and one-third of an inning respectively.
The visitors outhit Alice Lloyd 15-10.