Scots Split With Ohio Wesleyan
ALMA, Mich. - The Scots improved to 10-4 overall with a doubleheader split against visiting Ohio Wesleyan Saturday (Mar. 25) at Scots Park in Alma. Despite a full covering of snow at 8 a.m., the games were played as scheduled in near-freezing temperatures. The Scots dropped the first game 9-5 before rallying in the bottom of the seventh inning of game two to take the 12-11 victory. For the series, Kristy Muxlow (Brown City) was 3-for-4 with three runs, a double and two triples and an RBI, hitting .750 in two games. Megan Knochel (Pinconning) was stellar, starting both games at third base, going 5-for-8 with three runs and an RBI.
Game one saw OWU put up three runs in the second and another in the third before Alma could answer in the bottom of the third when Knochel singled to get on base, followed by an Amy Gaudard (Mt. Pleasant) single, moving Knochel to second. With a Megan Colligan (Northville/Novi) single into center field, Knochel crossed home for the Scots' first run. But the Bishops answered with four more runs in the top of the fourth and tacked on one more in the top of the seventh to make the score 9-1. It looked as though Alma was going to pull off the come-from-behind win when Amy Kjoller (Wyoming/Catholic Central) led off the seventh with a single into right center and Lisa Cook (Alma/St. Louis) took first on an error at second base. Sarah Tipton (Perrysburg, Ohio) generated a single up the middle to load the bases as Liana Easterby (Troy) stepped to the plate and blasted a grand slam home run over the center field fence. Three quick outs grounded the Scots' hopes for a comeback.
Kay McDonald made the start for the Scots in game one, going four innings and allowing eight runs on nine hits, striking out three and walking three. Alyssa Gooch closed the game, throwing three innings, allowing one run - unearned - on two hits, striking out two and walking another.
Game two saw the Scots generate 19 hits - a season high for the team - and 12 runs. It was an offensive battle throughout the second game. Ohio Wesleyan continued to generate runs, putting up four in the top of the first. Alma answered with two in the bottom of the inning as Missy Morcom (Chelsea) led off with a walk, Knochel popped out, Gaudard singled to move Morcom to second and Colligan singled through the right side to score Morcom. A Laura Bell (Walled Lake/Western) pop fly to short gave way to a Taylor Erwin (Fenton) double, scoring Gaudard before Sarah Seals flied out to left to end the inning.
OWU went scoreless in the next three consecutive innings while Alma put up three runs in the bottom of the second and third to take a 8-4 advantage. The Bishops posted three runs in the fifth to close the gap to 8-7 in favor of the Scots and put up three more in the top of six to take a 10-8 lead. Another run in the top of seven gave the Bishops 11 runs. But the scoring was not done for the Scots.
Kristy Muxlow led off with her second triple of the game to put the Scots in scoring position before Morcom struck out, giving Alma its first out. Knochel singled to put runners at the corners and Gaudard took her base on balls to load the bases as Audra Reynolds (Six Lakes/Montabella) entered to pinch run. Big hitter Megan Colligan stepped to the plate and with decisive looks, took her base on balls to plate Muxlow, keeping the bases loaded and making the score 11-9. Freshman Erica Guitar (Croswell/Croswell-Lexington) entered to pinch run for Colligan and Laura Bell reached on a fielder's choice, Guitar moved to second and the Bishops took Reynolds out at third as Knochel scored to make the score 11-10. Freshman Amy Kjoller came in to pinch run for Bell while sophomore Taylor Erwin generated a single up the middle to score Guitar, tying the game and putting the game-winning runner at third. Freshman Sarah Seals (Alma) hit a solid double into left field to knock in the game-winning run with two outs.
Pitching was a shared affair again in game two as Danielle Lavoie (Mt. Pleasant) made the start, going four inning and allowing seven runs on seven hits, striking out three and walking two. Katie Koechling (Wheaton, Ill./North) went 2.1 innings and allowed four runs on six hits with a strikeout before Gooch returned to pick up the win, throwing two-thirds innings, walking one.
Game two saw Muxlow go 3-for-4 with three runs and an RBI, including two triples. Morcom came up big with a home run, going 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBI.
The Scots return to action March 28 when they host Albion College in Alma's MIAA opener at Scots Park. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m.
Posted: Sat, March 25th, 2006 at 6:14PM
