Pippa Passes, KY: The Alice Lloyd Eagles baseball team (7-30) hosted the Toccoa Falls College (GA) Screaming Eagles (14-31) on April 15-16 in a three-game series. After the final out was registered, the Eagles had picked up two nice wins for their efforts.
April 15
Game 1
ALC-1; TFC-3
The visitors spread out 3 runs to win in a pitcher’s duel.
TFC got on the scoreboard in the second inning when a dropped flyball permitted a runner to cross home (1-0).
ALC would answer in their next at bat as a solid single from Wyatt Crisp (C) drove in the tying run (1-1).
The Screaming Eagles would break the tie in their very next at-bat when a long sacrifice fly drove in a runner from third base (2-1). They would add an insurance run in the sixth when a double drove in another score (3-1).
In the meantime, during the middle innings, Alice Lloyd would plate runners each time with the potential to tie the score. Unfortunately, they were unable to land the big hit that could knot the contest.
In the seventh, the Eagles bats were stymied as they went down in order to end the matchup.
At the plate, Kason Hofsess (SS) and Cannon Ferrell (CF) led the way with 2 hits apiece. Crisp registered the lone RBI.
On the mound, pitcher Peyton Branham started and took the loss despite a solid effort. He allowed 7 hits and 2 earned runs in 6 innings, while whiffing 4 batters. Caleb Justice threw the final inning in relief, allowing no hits.
ALC was outhit 8-7.
Game 2
ALC-12; TFC-10
The Pippa Passes crew wielded the big bats and used some nice hits to take the second contest and even the series.
Each club would plate 1 run in the first inning. These came courtesy of a long pop-out and a fielder’s choice (1-1).
The hosts would break the tie in the second when Ferrell singled to left to drive in the runner (2-1).
In the third, Toccoa smacked two doubles, which helped produce 3 big runs (4-2). Later, they would load the bases with no one out, and look to blow the game wide open.
In this ultra-tough, situation Alex Acey came on to pitch in relief. Impervious to the pressure, the hurler promptly recorded two strikeouts, retired 3 consecutive batters, and stopped the bleeding as the fans roared in approval. This helped change the momentum.
Alice Lloyd would respond in their next at bat. Noah Dingess (LF) and Hofsess opened with back-to-back doubles. 2 singles later, ALC had regained the lead (5-4).
In the fourth, the Georgia club produced a run to tie things (5-5), but the blue and white found another answer.
Although a big double from TJ Mullins (3B) paid dividends, TFC committed 4 gift errors before they could stop the bleeding and end the inning. Suddenly, the Eagles led 9-5.
The fifth would also prove fruitful to the hometown boys. Singles from Noah Dingess (LF) and Mullins produced 2 more scores (11-5).
Toccoa earned 2 runs in the top of the sixth (11-7), but an RBI single from Nick VanKeuren (LF) earned 1 run back (12-7).
Down to their final at-bat, TFC refused to go away quietly as they once again loaded the bases, and Mullins came on in relief to try to seal the deal.
The Screaming Eagles promptly scored 2 runs, but the next batter would ground into a big double-play, and the final batter would ground out to end the contest.
On the day, Mullins and Caleb Horton (2B) would both rap 3 hits while Ferrell, Dingess, Hofsess, and VanKuren all smacked 2. Mullins provided 5 huge RBIs.
Acey, in relief of Will Gladson, recorded the victory on the mound. He allowed 2 hits and 3 runs over 3.1 innings. Justice and Mullins both pitched in relief, with Mullins earning his first save of the year.
The Eagles finished with 14 hits, compared to the visitors’ 8.
April 16
ALC-6; TFC-3
A great start led to a great result as ALC won the final game to take the series.
ALC would strike quickly in their first at bat. After a single from Dingess and a wild pitch produced 2 scores (2-0), Peyton Brown (1B) unloaded on a fastball and drove it over the left-field wall to produce 2 more (4-0).
The Screaming Eagles would earn a run in the third (4-1) only to watch ALC answer in the fifth. In that inning, a Mullins single and Crisp double drove in 2 more scores (6-1).
The Georgia club would produce a single run in the eight (6-2) and squeak another across in the ninth (6-3). Unfortunately for them, their final two batters would go down on a harmless popup and strike out to end the day and chalk up the victory in the Eagles’ column.
At the plate, Brown would produce 2 of his club’s 5 hits and add 2 RBIs.
Chase Conley started and took the win. He allowed 9 hits and 3 earned runs in 8.1 innings while recording 7 big K’s. Dawson Beckett closed out the contest to earn a save.
ALC was outhit 10-5 but came through where it counted.