ALC Baseball concludes season, drop 15-12 slugfest to Grace Christian in Mideast Regional Tournament

ALC-12: GCU-15 (Nine Innings)

Circleville, OH: The #4 Alice Lloyd College Eagles (31-19) baseball team returned to the diamond on March 6th in the semi-final match of the double-elimination NCCAA Mideast Regional Baseball Tournament. This contest would be against #3 Grace Christian University (27-25), and the loser would be eliminated. In a back-and-forth slugfest that featured 27 total runs scored, the squad from Michigan would deliver the final blow and take a 15-12 victory.

The northern team struck in the first inning, using a single and fielder's choice to produce 3 runs (3-0).

In the bottom of the inning, Pippa Passes product Diego Rodriguez (SS) singled, then scored on a Carson Tate (2B) double (3-1).

In the second inning, the Eagles unloaded 4 big runs, fueled by a Rodriguez single and huge 3-run blast from Jaden Huff (1B). This gave the Bluegrass bunch a 5-3 advantage.

However, in the top of the fourth, GCU answered with an RBI single (5-4). They next took advantage of a pair of crucial Eagle errors to load the bases, then cleared them by launching a grand-slam homer. The 5-run windfall quickly made the score 8-5, OCU.

Once again, the Caney Creekers responded. In the bottom of the inning, a walk and Kyle Johnson (CF) single placed a pair of Eagles on the basepaths Rodriguez then delivered a nice 2-RBI single, then scored himself on a sacrifice fly from Cole Bishop (C). Next, Kyle Compton (3B) singled in a run. By the time the dust had settled, the blue and white led 9-8.

Later, in the fifth, they received a gift run from the Tigers when a throwing error enabled Johnson to score all the way from first. Now, Alice Lloyd led 10-8, and appeared to have the momentum in their favor. Unfortunately, the Wolverine state team would fight back.

In the sixth, Grace used a single, double and Eagle error to plate a pair of scores (10-10). They then added another run in the seventh on a solo blast. Quickly, the Tigers led 11-10.

To their credit, "The Pass" rallied. In the bottom-half of the inning, Huff doubled and scored on a Bishop single. That was followed by singles from Compton and Stephen Byrd (DH). Alice Lloyd now led once more, 12-11.

Both squads went down in the eighth, so the contest entered the ninth with the Kentucky kids trying to preserve their cushion. Unfortunately, Grace Christian had one more rally in their bats.

In the ninth, the Tigers uncorked a double and trio of singles to produce 4 massive runs. This lifted them to a 15-12 lead.

Down to their last chance, ALC saw their leadoff hitter walk, but a double-play ball made two outs. The final batter then struck out, and handed Grace the comeback win.

At the plate, the Eagles saw Rodriguez go 3-6 while Tate, Huff, and Compton all smacked 2 hits. Rodriguez finished with 4 RBIs, while Huff crushed 1 homerun and knocked in 3RBIs of his own.

Four men took to the mound for the Caney Creekers. Ryan Grubbs started and allowed 8 hits and 8 runs in 3 innings. Braydon Norton relieved for 5 innings and gave up 4 hits and 3 runs with 3 K's. Anakin Floyd suffered the loss. In 0.1 innings, he allowed 3 hits and 4 runs, while Matthew Hebar faced the final pair of batters, allowing 1 hit and 0 runs.

The Eagles were outhit, 16-13, but the big difference in the game were the errors. GCU made just 1, but ALC committed 6, and simply could not overcome that amount.

Despite the loss, the Eagles had a great season, finishing the year with a school-record 31 wins. They will look to build on that total next year.