ALC Softball rides pair of shutout performances to defeat Grace Christian, Michigan

Pippa Passes, KY: The Alice Lloyd College Lady Eagles (15-11) returned to Caney Creek on March 11th to do battle with the visiting Grace Christian University Tigers (3-9). The hosts unleashed a pair dominate pitching performances, chalking up their fifth consecutive shutout in the process, and seize both matchups in impressive fashion, 12-0 and 8-0..

 March 11th

Game 1 (Five Innings)

Alice Lloyd-12: GCU-0

ALC would throw a 4-hit shutout to take the opener.

"The Pass" jumped ahead in their first bat. After a walk, Mackenzie Newport (CF) doubled the runner to third. Arin Rife (1B) then hit a sacrifice fly to bring in the score, 1-0. 

In the third, four walks provided by Tiger pitching, combined with 4 Caney singles, including a 2-RBI shot from Newport, plated 4 more scores. This lifted the hosts to a 5-0 cushion.

Then, in the fourth, a flurry of Tiger walks and errors, layered around a double from Lady Eagle Kinna Justice (P), plus 6 stolen bases, led to a windfall of 7 runs. Suddenly, the scoreboard read 12-0.

The Michigan squad then went down in A-B-C order in the fifth to conclude the match. 

 At the plate, Newport and Mckenzie Orfield both went 2-3 with Newport delivering 4 RBI's.

On the mound Justice was in fine form once more, tossing a 4-hit shutout with 5 strikeouts and 0 walks in four innings of work. Katie Samuel pitched the fifth and retired the side in order.

The Lady Eagles won the hitting war, 10-4, committed 0 errors, and swiped 7 bases.

GAME 2

Alice Lloyd-8: GCC-0

It was a new game but the results were the same as ALC pitched another solid shutout to take the sweep.

The Caney Creek crew broke the ice swiftly as a double from Rife (P) and single from Briley Aidala (C) led to a trio of runs, 3-0. 

That feat was repeated in the second. 3 more scores were delivered behind a hit batsman, grounder, and Aidala single. The Caney Creekers now led 6-0.

The score remained unchanged until the sixth when Newport and Orfield singled, then raced home on Brooke Baker's (SS) line drive to center. The home squad were in control, 8-0.

The contest would end one inning later as Grace was unable to mount a comeback, handing the sweep to the Kentucky kids. 

At the plate, Newport and Aidala both went 2-3 while Baker and Rife both drove in 3 runs.

Rife started on the mound and earned the win. In 4 innings of work, she gave just 1 single (in the first inning) and 4 walks. She whiffed 4 batters. Justice relieved the final inning and gave only 1 hit before retiring three-straight batters.

ALC led in hits, 10-2, and steals, 5-0. They committed the games lone error, but it caused no issues