The Alice Lloyd Eagles baseball team (9-40) concluded the regular portion of their season by playing five games over three days: two at home with both Brescia University (KY) and Miami Hamilton (OH), and one at Bluefield State (WV).
April 29
Game 1
ALC-3; BU-14
The visitors spread out 11 runs over the final three innings to take the opener.
BU got on the scoreboard in the second inning when a triple and double led to 3 scores (3-0).
ALC would answer in their next at-bat as a solid double from Caleb Justice (SS) and a balk drove in a run (3-1).
In the Bearcat fifth, 3 hits produced 4 runs (7-1) and they followed that up with a big 6-run sixth, to pull away, 13-1. In the seventh, a solo blast plated their final score (14-1).
Alice Lloyd would score in their last chance when Jacob Lovell (DH) drove a fastball out of the park for 2 runs (14-3). Unfortunately, that was as close as the hosts could get.
At the plate, TJay Mullins (3B) went 2-3 while Lovell produced 2 RBIs.
On the mound, pitcher Peyton Branham started and took the loss. He allowed 7 hits and 7 earned runs in 4.2 innings while whiffing 3 batters. Mason Bryant and Jacob Frye both threw in relief.
ALC was outhit 15-6 and committed 2 errors.
Game 2
ALC-5; BU-8
The Bearcats broke away from a tie at the end to earn the sweep.
BU opened the scoring in the second as 2 hits led to 3 runs (3-0) The. Pippa Passes crew earned 1 run back when Noah Dingess (LF) opened things with a solo shot over the right-field wall (3-1).
In the third, Brescia smacked a homer to gain back the momentum (5-1), and things remained the same until the bottom of the fifth.
The fifth would prove fruitful to the hometown boys. After loading the bases, TJay Mullins promptly cleared them with a mammoth shot to center field. Just like that, the contest was knotted at 5-5.
BU earned 2 runs in the top of the sixth (7-5) but went down with the bases still loaded. However, ALC was unable to capitalize in their next at-bat despite putting the leadoff hitter on base.
In the seventh, a solo blast provided BU with some insurance (8-5). Down to their final opportunity, ALC would go down in order.
On the day, Mullins and Caleb Horton (2B) would both rap 2 hits while Mullins provided 4 huge RBIs.
Dawson Beckett started, allowing 12 hits and 7 runs over 5.2 innings, with 4 K’s. Alex Acey suffered the defeat in relief as he allowed just 1 hit and 1 run over 1.1 innings.
The Eagles finished with 8 hits, compared to the visitors’ 13.
April 30
Game 1
ALC-6; MH-5
A walk-off single gave the Eagles the thrilling series-opening victory.
ALC would strike quickly in their first at-bat, utilizing a walk, steal, and single to plate a run (1-0).
However, in the second, 3 gift errors from the hosts handed the Harriers 2 runs right back (2-1). MH would repeat the same scoring in the fourth, by virtue of 3 hits (4-1).
In the bottom of the inning, Dingess would stroke a solo shot to the left that produced a needed run (4-2).
The Eagles would then tie things once more in the sixth when Mullins uncorked a mighty 2-run wallop (4-4).
The Ohio club would produce a single run in the seventh aided by another ALC error (5-4), only to see the Caney Creek Club’s Mullins come through in the clutch with a 2-out, RBI single (5-5).
In extra innings, the Harriers had a man on second but saw their final two batters ground out to end their opportunity.
In the Bluegrass boys’ portion of the eighth, Peyton Brown (1B) led off with a double and was later sacrificed to third. Eventually, with 2 outs, Kamden Powell showed true grit as he lined a single to center to bring in the game-winner and chalk up the victory in the Eagles’ column.
At the plate, Mullins continued his steady play going 3-3 with 3 RBIs. Brown and Powell would produce 2 hits apiece.
Chase Conley went the distance and snagged the win. He allowed 7 hits and just 2 earned runs in 8 innings, ALC won the hitting battle 10-5 and overcame 4 critical errors.
Game 2
ALC-8; MH-5
A massive six-run inning proved to be enough to lead ALC to the nice sweep.
The Pippa Passes crew would attack viciously in the second, as 8 big hits, capped off by a Kason Hofsess 3-run blast to left, produced 6 scores (6-0).
After Hamilton earned 1 run back in the third (6-1), the Eagles promptly produced 2 of their own when Dingess would stroke a 2-run shot to left (8-1).
The Ohio squad would make things shaky in the sixth when they rode 4 hits, including a bomb of their own, to plate 4 scores (8-5). However, after a leadoff double in the seventh, their next three batters went down harmlessly to conclude the action.
At the plate, Hofsess went 3-4 with 3 RBI’s while Dingess and Isaiah Beckett (LF) added 2 hits apiece.
Will Gladson went the distance and snagged the win. He allowed 9 hits and 5 earned runs in 7 innings.
ALC won the hitting battle 12-9.
May 1
ALC-8; BSU-10
The Eagles made a gallant comeback before fading late in a single nine-inning contest against the NCAA DII squad.
BSU opened the scoring out of the gate as 4 hits led to 3 runs (3-0) The. Pippa Passes crew earned 2 runs back when Hofsess tripled in two scores (3-2).
In the fourth, ALC would tie things after Dingess doubled and scored on Wyatt Crisp’s (C) single (3-3).
Bluefield would squeak ahead on a double in their half of the inning (4-3), but they would apply real pressure in the fifth.
The fifth would see the Big Blues use a double to plate 3 runs and pump up the advantage (7-3).
Fortunately, in the seventh, three well-placed singles would allow the Caney Creek boys to earn 2 runs back (7-5).
However, the Mountaineer club would use 2 giant doubles in the eighth to seize momentum once again, and leap ahead, 10-5.
Down to their final at-bat, Alice Lloyd made things interesting as they used 3 singles and a Hofsess double to slice the deficit to just two (10-8). Disappointingly, with the go-ahead run at the plate, the final Eagle batter would go down on strikes.
On the day, Hofsess and Crisp would both bang 3 hits while Mullins and Nick Vankeuren (RF) provided 2 each. Cannon Ferrell (CF) contributed 3 nice RBIs.
Ryan Cozart started, allowing 11 hits and 4 earned runs over 6 innings, with 6 K’s Alex Acey pitched the final two innings and added 3 more strike-outs to the total.
The Eagles finished with 13 hits, compared to the visitors with 14.
3 errors by the visitors proved costly.