Scots Jump To Early Lead In 8-6 Win Against Calvin
ALMA, Mich. - After battling for two days against the Scarlet Knights, splitting yesterday’s doubleheader, the Scots returned to action Tuesday and opened with five runs in the first inning to send a clear message early that today would be different. The Maroon and Cream played with the lead for nine full innings as three different pitchers combined in the effort.Ray Ribitch (Mt. Pleasant) led off with a single through the left side and stole second to move to scoring position. A Pat Ott (East Lansing) single up the middle scored Ribitch as Ott moved to second. Pete Ott (East Lansing) stepped up, grounding out for the inning’s first out, moving Pat to third base. Pat McGuire (Clare) stepped in and sent one deep for his second home run of the season, giving the Scots a three-run advantage. Calvin Bassil (Jeddo/Croswell-Lexington) walked and Jim Wegener (Hemlock) singled to keep things going as Mike Zuehlke (Mt. Pleasant) singled to load the bases. An Adam Jerry (St. Louis) single into center field scored Bassil. Dan Merian (Milford) reached on a fielder’s choice as the Knights took Wegener at home, keeping the bases loaded. Back at the top of the order, Ribitch singled to score Zuehlke as Jerry was out at home to end the inning with a distinct five-run advantage for the Maroon and Cream.
Calvin would post two runs in the third, but the Scots put up another run in the sixth as Merian led off with a single and Ribitch executed a sacrifice bunt to advance Merian. Pat Ott’s single to right field plated Merian before the Knights generated two outs to get out of the inning.
In the seventh with two outs, Zuehlke was issued a walk before Jerry hit an RBI triple into right field for the Scots’ seventh run of the game.
In the bottom of the seventh, Calvin put up a single run and got three more in the bottom of the eighth but it was not enough as, with two outs in the ninth, Zuehlke sent one over the fence for the final run of the game, securing the 8-6 win for Alma.
Wade Slavik (Ashley/Fulton) picked up his first win of the season, working 6.1 innings, striking out four and allowing two runs. Will Eubank (Lansing/Everett) threw two-thirds of an inning while Brandon Shorter (Alanson) came in to close, working two innings, allowing one run and striking out two.
The Scots return to action April 29-30 when they host Kalamazoo College.
Posted: Tue, April 26th, 2005 at 8:18PM
