Alice Lloyd Baseball Eagles Close Out River States Conference Play against Midway University

Pippa Passes, KY: The Alice Lloyd College Eagles baseball team returned home on April 28-29 to face the Midway University Eagles. This would be the final RSC series of the season.

After the final out was concluded, the visiting Eagles had swept the series. ALC now sits at 15-35 (3-24 RSC), while the Central Kentucky club improved to 26-20 and is now tied for first place in the conference (20-7 RSC).

April 28, 2023

Game 1

Alice Lloyd-4; MU-15

In the opening contest, Midway used two key innings to put the game away.

 Things started on a positive note for the hometown boys. Corey Jefferson (SS) opened the game with a single. Two batters later, TJay Mullins (LF) continued his torrid hitting streak by powering a shot over the center field fence, to put his club ahead 2-0.

Over the next two innings, Midway would answer. They smacked a solo homer in the second to slice the deficit in half (2-1). One inning later, a double promptly brought in the tying run. After three innings, the score stood 2-2.

MU would gain some separation in a key fourth inning. During that juncture, a single and a double each delivered two runs. The visitors now led 6-2.

They would add to their lead in the sixth when an error and single brought two more scores across the plate (8-2). Fortunately, the hosts would attempt to rally.

In the bottom of the same inning, after Noah Dingess (1B) singled, Eric Williams (DH) stroked a double up the gap to deliver the goods (8-3). Later, a deep sacrifice fly brought him home. The score now read 8-4, and another good inning from the Caney Creek crew could make the game interesting.

However, in the seventh, a Midway sacrifice gained one of the runs back (9-4). They would then put the game out of reach in a key ninth inning.

In the game-clincher, MU loaded the bases before unleashing a triple to clear them (11-4). They would eventually add three more men to go up 15-4. Their pitching would salt the contest away soon after.

The Caney Creek boys registered 9 hits on the day with Mullins, Dingess, and Cole Bishop (C), all gaining 2. Mullins provided the 4-bagger and 2 RBI's, while Williams, Bishop, and Dingess smacked doubles.

 On the mound, Dawson Beckett took the loss. In 9 innings, he allowed 11 hits and 6 earned runs, with 4 strikeouts. Chase Conley gave up 5 hits and 7 earned runs in 2.1 innings, while Brady Carrico faced the final 3 batters, allowing 1 hit and 0 runs.

The Pippa Passes Eagles were outhit, 17-9, and committed 2 errors.

April 29, 2023

Game 2

Alice Lloyd-1; MU-10

In this contest, Midway wielded the big bats from the get-go, to pull away for the victory.

The visitors struck quickly from the start, using a single and homerun to jump ahead, 2-0.

A double-plated one in the MU second (3-0), while two singles, sandwiched around a sacrifice fly, delivered three more scores. Just like that, the Central Kentucky squad led 6-0.

The visiting Eagles put up another three-spot in the fifth when, after two batters reached base safely, another blast to center cleared the bags (9-0).

Finally, in the very last inning, Midway would add an additional run, courtesy of their third home run of the day (10-0).

ALC refused to be shut out and dented the board in their last chance. Caleb Horton (2B) singled to drive in pinch-runner Gabe Graham (10-1), but the rally would fizzle out.

The hosts registered 7 hits for the game, with Horton, Caleb Justice (3B), and Wyatt Hobgood (C) each recording 2. Horton had the lone RBI, while Hobgood cracked a double.

On the mound, Ryan Cozart suffered the loss. In 7 innings, he allowed 9 hits and 9 earned runs. He added 2 strikeouts. Cole Bishop relieved the final 4 innings and gave up 3 hits and 1 run.

The victors produced 12 hits compared to the Eagles' 7, which helped them overcome the only two errors on the day.                                                               

Game 3

Alice Lloyd-0; MU-16

The final game was all Midway as they took the series sweep with an impressive pitching performance.

The visiting Eagles struck quickly in the first, when an error on a hot-grounder gave them a 1-0 advantage. They would not score in the second, but that would be the only inning they plated no runs.

In the third, Midway used a single to produce two runs (3-0). One inning later, two separate singles would give them the same results, and the score read 5-0.

In the fifth, MU would blow the contest wide open. In that inning, they would ride a double, two more singles, an error, and a long sacrifice fly to pump out seven runs. When they finally recorded their third out, the lead and grown to 12-0.

In the sixth, a walk and hit batsman permitted two more runners to score (14-0), while in the seventh, a double to right offered the same results. (16-0).

In the meantime, the Caney Creek bats were completely stifled. Only two members of the home team reached base all day. Isaiah Kelly (RF) lined a single and Bishop drew a walk. However, both would remain stranded on base as Midways pitcher Dylan Burton was on top of his game the entire seven innings, as he tossed a one-hit shutout.

On the mound for ALC, Peyton Branham started and was credited with the loss. In 4 innings, he allowed 10 hits and 8 earned runs, with 1 strikeout. Carrico relieved for 1 inning, and gave up 3 hits and 2 runs, with 2 K's. Matthew Hebar and Jefferson both tossed 1 inning apiece, and both were charged with 2 runs each.

The victors produced 15 hits compared to the Eagles 1, and 3 errors on the day did the hosts no favors.