ALC Softball falls to Ohio Christian University, win streak ends at record 13 games

Pippa Passes, KY: The Alice Lloyd Lady Eagles (22-12) softball squad returned home on April 2^nd to battle the Ohio Christian Lady Trailblazers (2-18). The Pippa Passes posse was playing for the first time in nine days and the rust showed. They would take the first contest in a close match before seeing their 13-game win streak come to an end in the disappointing nightcap.

April 2nd

Game 1

Alice Lloyd-3: OCU-1

The Lady Eagles fell behind in the second before rallying behind solid pitching to take the opener.

After a scoreless first inning, the Trailblazers struck in the second, plating a run on a single (1-0). "The Pass" responded in the third when Jordan Rakes (LF) lined a single to center field to knot the score at 1-1.

In the fifth, ALC captured the lead when Mckenzie Orfield (CF) smacked her own single to center to make the score 2-1.

Finally, in the sixth, Chloe Taylor (2B) laced a big double to the fence to gain the Caney Creek clubbers an insurance run. The hosts would now lead, 3-0.

One inning later, the match would end as OCU went down harmlessly to clinch the "W" for the home fans.

At the plate, Newport led the way by batting 2-3. She also joined Rakes and Taylor, as each drove in 1 RBI.

Kinna Justice started on the mound and took the impressive victory, allowing just 3 hits and 1 runs over four innings with 2 strikeouts and 1 walk. 

The Lady Eagles won the hitting-battle, 8-3 and held on despite committing the games only 3 errors.  

GAME 2

Alice Lloyd-7: OCU-8

The Ohio squad rallied to end the ALC win streak.

The visitors jumped ahead in their opening at bat, courtesy of a double and single (2-0).

However, in the Eagle second, with Brooke Baker (SS) on base, Whitney Lippert (C) would clear the basepaths with a blast over the left-center field wall to knot the contest at 2-2.

The Ohio team would inch on -top in the third, buoyed by a single (3-2) only to watch the Caney Creeker's) untie the contest once again. This was accomplished by behind a solo-blast over the left-field wall by Arin Rife (P) and a big 2-run triple from Justice (1B) that made the score 5-3.

 In the fourth, Rife came through with a run-producing single, and the blue and white appeared in command, 6-3. However, the momentum would soon change.

In the top of the fifth, OCU came through with 4 singles and an error to produce a windfall of 4-runs and erase the deficit. Suddenly, the guests led, 7-6.

Then in the sixth, a solo-bomb from the Buckeye squad gave then an insurance run (8-6)..

ALC would answer in the bottom of the inning when Baker delivered a two-out RBI single (8-7) and later stole second. However, with the go-ahead run at the plate, a strikeout would end the rally.

Eventually, down to their last opportunity to keep the big win streak alive, the Bluegrass squad went down in order, to give Ohio Christian the upset win.

At the plate, Rife, Justice, and Lippert all provided 2 hits and 2 RBIs with Rife and Lippert delivering the homeruns.

On the mound, Rife suffered the loss. In 4.2 innings of work, she allowed 8 hits and 7 runs (3 earned) with 3 walks, while whiffing 8 batters. Justice relieved the final 2.1 innings, allowing 2 hits and 1 run.

The Blazers led in hits (10-11) and made fewer errors (3-2).