Pippa Passes, KY: On Friday, April 23rd, the visiting NCCAA DII Big Blues of Bluefield State came to Pippa Passes to face the Alice Lloyd Baseball Eagles on Senior Day. Ten ALC players were recognized before the start of the doubleheader. When the dust had settled, BSC returned home with both victories.
April 23rd
Game 1: Alice Lloyd-2; BSC-5
The Eagles led 3-2 entering the fourth, but were unable to make it stand as they dropped the opener.
The visitors struck quickly with 1 run in the first (0-1), but the Caney Creek crew wasted no time with their response.
In their opening inning, two Pippa Passes singles, and a double courtesy of senior Dalton Cornett (2B) would lead to 3 runs (3-1).
The visitors got one of those back in the second (3-2), but then used 3 hits and 2 errors to plate 4 runs in a big fourth inning (3-6).
The score remained unchanged until the sixth when the Big Blues stuck again with 2 runs (3-8). They then added an insurance run in the last inning (3-9).
In their last chance, ALC saw Cornett single sophomore TJ Mullins (SS) to third. Later, with two outs, senior Alex White (3B) drove in both runners with a double (5-9). Unfortunately, that was all the Eagles could get.
On the day, Cornett finished 3-3 while White went 2-3. Three pitchers took to the mound for the Caney Creek club with Chase Conley suffering the loss. The trio combined to give up 8 hits and allow just 3 earned runs while whiffing 9 batters. However, the squad was hurt immensely by a 5-0 error disadvantage.
Both teams had 8 hits.
Game 2: Alice Lloyd-2; BSC-6
Bluefield State earned the sweep as the Eagle bats were kept in check.
Things started out well for the Big Blues as they scored 1 in the opener and added 3 more in the third (0-4).
ALC got on the board in the third when sophomore Kason Hoffsess (RF) reached on a fielder’s choice and later stole home (1-4).
Unfortunately, in the top of the fifth, a walk, single, and error permitted 2 BSC runners to score (1-6).
In their next at-bat, the hosts attempted to rally as Mullins singled and scored on Cornett’s double (2-6). Once more, however, the runner was left stranded.
Finally, in the last inning, things started well when Mullins led off with a double, then scored on a sacrifice fly. However, the final batter struck out to end the day.
At the plate, Mullins rapped 3 hits to pace the club.
Three pitchers took to the mound for the Caney Creek club with Jaycob Banks suffering the tough loss. After 2.2 innings, the visitors only added 3 more hits, but their pitching was the difference in this contest.
Bluefield State outhit the Pippa Passes Eagles 7-5 and committed 1 error compared to ALC’s 2.