Scot Baseball Picks Up Two MIAA Wins On The Road at Calvin
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Alma College baseball pulled together for two wins, 6-3 and 10-4 at Calvin College to put up the first two wins of the MIAA season for the Scots. Alma is now 3-11 and 2-6 in MIAA games. The first game the Scots won 6-3 while Dan Merian (Milford) led, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a run and and RBI. Calvin led early with a two-run first inning, but Alma answered with two runs in the top of the third to tie things at 2-2. The Scots tacked on two more in the fourth inning and one run in both the sixth and seventh - Calvin's third run came in the fifth.Facing an 0-2 deficit in the top of the third, Bobby Jock (Wales/Memphis) led off with a single to right center. Dan Merian laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Jock before Ray Foley (New Hudson/South Lyon) hit his first home run of the season to score two runs. Mike Slesinski (Milford) singled before Mike McAlpin (Mt. Pleasant) struck out and Slesinski was the third out of the inning on a fielder's choice by Josh Reece (Norton Shores/Muskegon Mona Shores).
With things all tied up, the Scots held Calvin scoreless in the bottom of the inning and then added two more in the top of the fourth. Wade Slavik (Ashley/Fulton-Middleton) led off with a single. Jeremy Stephens (Maple Rapids/Fulton-Middleton) singled with a bunt and then Tyler Bolley (Lansing/Eastern) took first on a fielder's choice with Slavik getting the out. An error in the field at second base allowed Jock on base and scored Stephens with Bolley moving to third base. A Merian single plated Bolley - Merian would be caught stealing at second and Foley flied out to end the fourth inning up - and for good - 4-2.
Calvin added another run in the fifth but the Scots answered in the sixth with a solo run. With two outs on the board, Merian hit an infield single to put a runner aboard. After hitting his stride with the home run in the third, he doubled to score Merian before Slesinski ground out to end the inning with the Scots managing a 5-3 lead.
The final run of the game came in the top of the seventh with a leadoff single by the freshman McAlpin, followed by a Reece bunt that put him on base and an error by the catcher allowed McAlpin to take third. Slavik struck out for the inning's first out and Jeremy Stephens sacrificed to score McAlpin. Walks to Bolley and Jock ensued before Merian fouled out to the first baseman.
Calvin singled in the bottom of the seventh to give them a game-tying batter at the plate, but could not capitalize, ending the game in favor of the Scots, 6-3.
For the game on the mound, John Fillmore (Midland) and Tom Montgomery (Decatur, Ind./Big Rapids) combined for the successful outing with Fillmore picking up his first win of the season on the mound. Fillmore went 4 2/3 innings, scattering two hits and three runs - only one earned while striking out two and walking five. Montgomery went 2 1/3 innings allowing one hit.
In the second game, Stephens and Merian continued to be threats at the plate while Dan Morales (Lansing/Eastern) joined them, going 2-for-4 with two RBI in the nightcap.
Alma was down by a run with a Calvin score in the bottom of the first, but answered with a run in the top of the third with a leadoff walk to Drew Tarkington (Alpena) followed by a Jock sacrifice bunt to move Tarkington to second. The Alpena native would move to third on a wild pitch. Merian got another hit with an RBI single and on the ensuing play, moved to second with an error at first base. Foley, Slesinski and McAlpin would go down in order to close out the inning with the game tied 1-1.
In the top of the fourth inning, Alma added another run when with one out Stephens singled up the middle and traveled to second on a wild pitch. A Morales single scored Stephens and then Drew Tarkington reached on a fielder's choice with Morales out on the play. Jock struck out to end the inning with the Scots holding a 2-1 edge.
Calvin tossed three runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth - but it would not matter as the Maroon and Cream put up eight in the top of the fifth. Merian, Foley and Slesinski scored early before Calvin was forced to make a pitching change and McAlpin, Reece, Stephens, Tarkington and Jock crossed home plate to make the lead 10-4 for the Scots. Alma ended the fifth inning with eight runs on eight hits. For the game, they scored 10 on 13 hits and committed just one error in the field.
Matt Gorman (Gladwin) went six innings on the mound scattering eight hits and allowing four runs - two earned. Wade Slavik would make an appearance in relief going one inning and striking out one batter.
Alma returns to the diamond April 3 when it hosts Saginaw Valley State at 1 p.m. at Klenk Park in Alma.
Posted: Sat, March 31st, 2007 at 8:28PM
