Pippa Passes, KY: The Alice Lloyd College Lady Eagles (11-23) returned home on April 9th for a doubleheader with Miami Hamilton University. They would come away with a split for the series.
April 9
GAME ONE
MHU-3; Alice Lloyd-2
The Pippa Passes Club came through in the clutch as they earned the big win in a pitcher’s duel.
MH struck first, as an opening-inning sacrifice fly brought in a run (1-0). They would follow that up in the top of the third with a run-scoring single, to lead 2-0.
After leaving two runners stranded on base in both the first and second innings, the Lady Eagles broke through in the bottom of the third. Alexis Morris (2B) opened up with a single, then jogged home after Lyndsey Adkins (1B) pounded a fastball over the right-field fence to tie the score (2-2).
The contest remained deadlocked until the bottom of the sixth. At that juncture, 2 errors from Miami allowed ALC to slide a run across home plate, and pull ahead 3-2.
In the final inning, after the first two hitters popped out, some drama ensued when Hamilton cracked back-to back-singles. Happily, for the home fans, the final batter grounded out to end the contest and hand the Lady Eagles the victory.
At the plate, Adkins led the way with her 2-run blast. Five of her teammates would each add a single.
Baylee Cox earned the big win on the mound. She allowed only 3 hits and 2 runs over six innings of work. She also stuck out 2 batters. Mackenzie Brewer came on in the seventh to close out the contest.
The Eagles had 6 hits and 1 error while MH had 5 hits and 5 errors.
GAME TWO
MHU-9; Alice Lloyd-6
The visitors overcame a 4-run deficit to earn the split.
MH scored a run in the first on a single (1-0), but their lead was short-lived.
ALC got out of the gates on a great note as a single, 5 walks, and an error, allowed 5 runs to cross the plate (5-1).
The Ohio club earned two of those runs back in the third on a double (5-3), only to watch the Lady Eagles answer again.
In the bottom of the fourth, ALC’s Ellie Keene (C) unloaded on a fastball and sent it over the left-field fence to put the home club ahead 6-3. Unfortunately, things would go south for the Pippa Passes girls after that.
In the fifth, after Hamilton scored a run (6-4) and loaded the bases, they promptly emptied them with a grand slam (8-4). Just like that, the momentum completely changed. MH would add an insurance run in the seventh after gaining three more hits (9-6).
The Lady Eagles had runners on the bases in each of the last three innings and had the tying run at the plate in their final at-bat. Unfortunately, consecutive pop-ups ended the day in Miami’s favor.
For ALC, Morris had 3 hits while Adkins and Cox belted 2 hits each.
Pitcher Maleigh McDaniel suffered the loss. She allowed 11 hits and 8 earned runs, with 2 strikeouts. Haley Howell came on in relief, allowing 3 hits and 1 run while whiffing 1.
MH took the hitting battle 14-11 and led in errors, 2-1.