Pippa Passes, KY: The Alice Lloyd College Lady Eagles softball team returned home this week as they played four games in two days against two squads of Lady Eagles. On Wednesday, March 3rd, they hosted Asbury University while one day later, they hosted Midway University. Both matches were twin-bills.
March 3rd
GAME 1: ALC-1; AU-8
The visitors won big despite outhitting the hosts by just one (9-8). For the first four innings, the only run was provided on a solo homer from AU in the second (0-1).
In the top of the fifth, the visitors scored 4 more runs on the strength of two blasts (0-5). ALC did plate 1 run in the bottom of the inning with back-to-back doubles from senior Jada Estep and junior Abigail Stambaugh (1-5), but Asbury would then ice the game with 3 more runs in the sixth (1-8).
At the plate, Estep and junior Alyssa Clark both smacked 1 double and 1 single, while sophomore Lyndsey Adkins added 2 singles. On the mound, senior Mckenzie Brewer suffered the loss as she allowed 6 hits and 5 runs in just over four innings of work. The Caney Creek club hit equal to their foes, but hurt themselves as they stranded 10 runners on base.
GAME 2: ALC-6; AU-12
The Lady Eagles fell behind big and made a nice comeback before eventually falling. The Asbury club scored 2 in the third (0-2) and then plated 3 in the fourth behind back-to-back home runs (0-5).
The Caney Creek club smacked two singles in their next at-bat and produced 1 run (1-5) only to watch the Wilmore club add 3 more in the top of the fifth (1-8). The home club had their best inning in the bottom of the fifth as they scored 3 runs to eat into the deficit (4-8). Four hits, including a double from Adkins, produced the bounty.
AU got one of those back in the top of the sixth (4-9), but the host Eagles attempted a rally in the bottom of the inning with 2 runs. This time three singles did the damage (6-9). Unfortunately, Asbury iced the contest with 3 runs in the seventh (6-12).
At the plate, Alice Lloyd had 10 hits as Clark, Stambaugh, and Adkins each had 2 hits. Estep had 3 steals. On the mound, sophomore Baylee Cox tossed two solid innings of hitless ball. She was relieved by junior Haley Howell who suffered the loss. ALC was outhit 16-10.
March 4th
GAME 1: ALC-0; MU-2
The Lady Eagles fell in a pitcher’s duel. The Midway club went down in order for three innings before they got on the board in the fourth. 3 singles helped produce the only 2 runs of the contest (0-2).
The Caney Creek club was able to place runners on base in six of the innings, but they could never produce the key hit they needed in crunch time.
At the plate, Alice Lloyd saw Cox smack 3 singles as her squad won the hitting battle 5-4. On the mound, sophomore Kursten Napier suffered the hard-luck defeat as she only allowed 4 hits and went the distance. She stuck out 3 batters. ALC left 6 runners stranded on base.
GAME 2: ALC-4; MU-9
The Lady Eagles fell behind big and made a good comeback before falling. The Midway club struck quickly with a 2-run first, 4-run second, and 2-run third (0-8). The Caney Creek club finally came alive in the fifth. After three runners reached base, Adkins cleared the bases with a monster grand-slam homer (4-8).
MU got a big insurance run in the sixth (4-9) and then had to watch the home squad put runners on the bases in both of the next two innings. Fortunately, for the Central Kentucky squad, they were able to get out of trouble to earn the win.
At the plate, Alice Lloyd had 5 hits as Adkins homered and Stambaugh doubled for the extra-base hits. On the mound, Howell suffered the loss. ALC was outhit 10-5 and left 7 runners stranded while committing 4 errors.