ALC Eagles host Defiance University in 4-game series

 Pippa Passes, KY: The Alice Lloyd College Eagles (11-7) baseball team returned to the diamond on February 27^th-28th to face the Defiance University Yellow Jackets (5-14). The hosts would control the first day of action while the Buckeye squad turned the tables on day two.

March 6th

Game 1 (Eight Innings)

Alice Lloyd-18: Defiance-16

The Eagle bats were locked and loaded as they rallied in video-game action to win in the opener.

The scoring opened right out of the gate as the Yellow Jackets plated a pair of runs on  two fielders choice plays (2-0).

ALC would slice the lead in half in their opening apperance as Aaron Rothballer (DH) singled in a score, 2-1.

In the second, the visitors would use a single and double to earn 4 runs and push the advantage to 6-1, but the Pippas Passes posse would take a Diego Rodriguez (DH) single and cut the deficit in half, 6-3.

In the very next inning, DU would get a homer and double to pull ahead 10-3. Once more, ALC chipped away at the lead when Rothballer's 2-run blast made the score 10-5.

However, the Ohio crew promptly came out in the fifth with a pair of run-producing doubles. This gave Defiance a 14-5 cushion heading into the bottom half of the inning.

Once again, the Caney Creekers respoded. This time, they would recieve several gift errors from their opponents, and combine those with a single by Kyle Compton (3B) and a 2-run big blast from John Lopez (RF) to produce a 7-run windfall. Suddenly, the scoreboard read a managable 14-12. Then, when Rodriguez bopped a long sacrafice fly to deliver another teammate home, the score read 14-13.

The tide seemed to turn once more when the Jackets connected on a 2-run blast in the seventh to pull ahead 16-14, but the home club had more tricks up their sleeve.  First, Jacob Ayers pinch-hit and lined a single. Second, Compton promptly followed him with a blast over the left field wall. With the score now reading 16-15 and the fans on their feet, Lopez followed with his second shot over the left field wall. Just like that, the contest was knotted up, 16-16, and headed to extra-innings.

In the eighth, DU placed a runner on base with a walk, but when down after that. Next, ALC came to bat and saw Eric Lasso (PH) awarded first after he was struck by a pitch. This brought Compton back to the plate, and incrediball, he homed to hand the jubulant Eagle fans  an improbable win.

 At the plate, Compton was the man of the hour, finishing 4-5 with 5 RBI's, and 3 runs. He smacked a pair of home runs. Lopez and Rodriguez both came up huge as well, going 3-4 with Lopez adding another pair of blasts to the cause.

 Cain Flynn started on the mound, allowing allowed 5 earned runs on 5 hits in 2.1 innings of work.  He stuck out 3. Braydon Norton relieved for 1.1 innings, allowing 5 hits and 4 runs. with 2 K's. Elijah Breeding then appeared, giving up 4 runs on 2 hits in 2 innings. Finally, Matthew Hebar went the final three innings, and earned the win. He gave up 2 runs on 2 hits.

The Eagles were outhit 16-15 but committed 1 error compared to DU's 2. They also led in steals, 3-0.

Game 2

Alice Lloyd-6: Defiance-3

The Eagles came through with a solid pitching effort to take the nightcap.

The visiting squad would open the scoring in the first, gaining a run on a single, 1-0. Happily, Cole Bishop (C) doubled in an Eagle buddy to tie the game, 1-1.

 In the bottom of the next inning, Lopez uncorked another homer while Bishop laced his second double, to plate 4 scores. This lifted the Caney Clubbers to a 5-1 cushion.Bishop then strolled home on the strength of a Drake Cole bomb to lift the hosts to a 2-1 lead.

The score remained the same until the fifth inning. In that at-bat, a flurry of runs, sparked by  a nice Compton double, changed the scoreboard to 6-1. Although the Yellow Jackets would add  a 2-run shot in their final at-bat (6-3), it would prove too-little-too-late.

 At the plate, Rodriguez paved the way with 2 hits while Lopez homered for the second consecutive contest.

Ryan Grubbs started on the mound and was on his game. He pitched six solid innings, allowing just 2 earned runs on 5 hits to take the win.He stuck out 4. Anakin Floyd took the save in relief action. In 2 innings, he allowed 2 hits and 4 runs, with 1 whiff.

The victorious club led in hits, 8-5 and made less errors, 2-1.

March 7th

Game 1

 Alice Lloyd-6: Defiance-7

 Although the Eagles made an incredible rally from a 6-0 deficit to tie, they lost at the end as a new day brought a changed team from Ohio.

The visiting squad would start well, opening the scoring in their first at-bat, using a double and homer to sprint ahead, 5-0.

ALC scored in the third when Rodriguez delivered a single (5-1), but the Jackets would unload back-to-back blasts in the fourth to pull on top, 6-1. The hosts appeared done for.

However, you can never count out the Caney Creek Clubbers in this series. In the bottom of the inning, after Lopez and Compton reached base on a single and walk, Austin Byrd (CF) made things interesting by smashing a homer (6-4). Then, in their next at-bat, the hosts saw Lopez double in a score (6-5), and saw the game tied when Drake Turner (CF) smashed a deep sacrafice fly to bring Lopez home. The game was knotted up, 6-6.

Unfortunately, in the sixth, the guests would come through on this day with a huge solo blast to creep ahead, 7-6. Down to their last gasp, the home club would place two runners on the basepaths, but a  long fly out would hand the decision to the club from the north.

 At the plate, Lopez continued his stellar series, going 2-4 with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI. Byrd delivered 3 RBI's.

Trenton Williams started on the mound and pitched 5.1 innings. He allowed 7 earned runs on 8 hits and struck out 3. Gibbs Cochran relieved and allowed just 1 hit with 0 runs and 1 K in 1.2 innings 

Each team had 8 hits, and DU won despite committing the lone error.

Game 2

 Alice Lloyd-7: Defiance-15

The Ohio Jackets scored early and often to be rewarded with a split. for the series

The visiting squad would use a pair of singles in the first, a single in the second, plus a double and homer in the third, to pull on top, 4-0.

In the bottom of the inning, the Eagles would slice that in half, as Lopez impressively bopped another blast to make the scoreboard 4-2. Unfortunately, Defiance would explode in the fifth inning

In that juncture a flurry of walks sandwiched around a pair of blasts opened the fllodgates for 9 monster runns. This shot the Buckeye nine ahead 13-2.

While the Pippa Passes punchers would add a couple of scores (13-4 and see Lasso smash a 3-run shot in the seventh that made the score 14-7, the deficit was impossible to overcome.

At the plate, Grover Maynard (LF) had 2 hits while Lopez and Lasso  each achieved 3 RBI's.

Sunny Smith started on the mound and took the loss, allowing 3 hits and 3 runs in 2 innings. Thomas Forehand, Ayers, Noah Lawson, and  Parker Williams all relieved, combining for 12 runs on 10 hits. Forehand and Williams both whiffed 1 batter.

The Jackets rapped 13 hits  to 8 for the Eagles.Additionally, 5 errors undermind the host crew.