Alice Lloyd College Lady Eagles Softball upset Kentucky Christian in NCCAA Mideast Region, before falling to Oakland City in Finals
Oakland City, IN: The Alice Lloyd College Lady Eagles (12-32) returned to play on Tuesday, May 9th, in the NCCAA Mideast Regional Tournament as they faced the region's top-seed, the Kentucky Christian Lady Knights (27-26). Both clubs had lost once to homestanding Oakland City University, so whoever fell in this contest would be finished in the double-elimination format. The winner would remain alive and have the opportunity to play the Lady Oaks once more.
May 9th
Game One
#1 KCU-5; #3 Alice Lloyd-6
The Pippa Passes squad made an impressive comeback and held on to knock off the regional favorite.
In the top of the first, with runners on base, KCU would strike. They would drive a long fly ball deep enough to sacrifice the runner from third base, and jump ahead, 1-0. Things remained unchanged until the third.
In the bottom of that inning, Katie Deeds (RF) and Rachel Rife (LF) hit consecutive singles. Then, after a sacrifice bunt moved them over, a wild pitch allowed Deeds to race home (1-1). The next batter was Lyndsey Adkins (1B), and she promptly crushed a triple to put the Lady Eagles ahead, 2-1.
However, the Knights would show why they were the favorites in the fourth. In that inning, they used a double and three singles to earn three important runs, and leap ahead, 4-2. Fortunately, the Caney Creek crew was not ready to wave the white flag, and they attacked in the sixth inning.
Maleigh Mcdaniel (P) started things right with a single, then saw teammate Baylee Cox (DP) do the same thing. Deeds promptly drew a walk to load the bases and then watched Rife lace a double to left-center to bring home a couple of runs that tied the score, 4-4.
Alexis Morris (2B) then grounded to short, but a bobbled ball turned into a critical error and allowed Deeds to sneak in (5-4). Later in the same at-bat, Ellie Keene (C) laid out a nice bunt that delivered Rife home. Now, the Bluegrass ladies led 6-4 and had to hold on for one more inning to preserve the game.
KCU caused some drama as they opened the last inning with a single. After the next two batters went down quietly, a double sliced the deficit in half (6-5), and brought the go-ahead run to the plate.
Happily, for the ALC fans, Mcdaniel would end the threat, forcing the Knight batter to hit a grounder that she immediately gobbled up. Her throw was good for the final out, and the Caney Crew celebrated the big win.
At the plate, Mcdaniel, Rife, and Keene all delivered 2 hits, while Rife drove in 2 RBIs.
On the mound, Cox went the first 3.2 innings and allowed 6 hits and 4 earned runs. She was replaced by Mcdaniel who went the final 3.1 innings to register the victory. She gave up 4 hits and 1 run. She had 1 strikeout on the day, but 0 walks.
Kentucky Christian won the hitting battle, 10-9, and each club had 1 error.
May 9th
Game Two
#2 OCU-14; #3 Alice Lloyd-5
The Pippa Passes squad (12-33) put up a good fight, but it wasn't enough to prevent their season from coming to an end at the hands of the Lady Oaks (24-19).
The Kentucky club could not have asked for a better start. In the top of the first, a single from Morris, an OCU error, and Keene stealing home base on a daring play, led to a 3-0 cushion.
In the very next inning, Rife and Morris would connect on back-to-back singles, and add to the lead (4-0). Things were looking good, but the momentum swung in the third.
In that inning, the Oaks delivered three singles, two doubles, and a huge inside-the-park homer to produce six mammoth runs. They now led 6-4.
To their credit, the Caney Creek crew responded. Aspyn Branham (3B) led off with a single. She then scored on Chloe Taylor's (SS) single, and the deficit was just one, at 6-5. Unfortunately, that would be as close as they would get.
In the fourth, Oakland scored three more times, sparked by a triple (9-5). After adding single runs in the fifth (10-5) and sixth (11-5), they put the contest on ice in the seventh.
In the final inning, the Indiana team left no doubts as two doubles led to a 14-5 advantage. In the bottom of the seventh, after giving up a double to Adkins, OCU swiftly closed out the day to seal up the regional championship.
At the plate, Morris, Rife, and Branham all delivered 2 hits, while Morris and Taylor each drove in 1 RBI.
On the mound, Cox went the first inning and allowed 2 hits and 3 earned runs. She was replaced by Haley Howell, who gave up 7 hits and 5 runs in 2.1 innings.
Mcdaniel went 2.2 innings, giving up 7 hits and 6 runs. She had 1 K on the day. Napier allowed 1 hit in the last inning.
The victors won the hitting battle, 17-9, and committed 3 errors compared to ALC's 2.