New Concord, Ohio - The Alma College baseball team took two games from host Muskingum University on Friday (March 18) afternoon to extend its winning to six games. The Scots won the first game, 7-2, before staging a five-run rally in the top of the ninth inning in game 2 to eventually pull out the 11-10 victory in extra innings.
Game 1 - Alma 7, at Muskingum 2
The Scots scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning to pull away in the opening game.
In the top of the sixth inning, with the game tied at 2-2, junior Patrick Finn (Allentown, Mich./Almont) was hit by a pitch before junior Alex Peczynski (Farmington Hills, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) hit a double down the right field link to put runners on second and third. Senior David Carles (Staten Island, N.Y./Petrides/College of Staten Island) singled to left field to score Finn and send Peczynski to third, which chased Muskies pitcher Matt Lynn.
After the pitching change, sophomore Matthew Minaudo (Clinton Township, Mich./De La Salle Collegiate) was hit by a pitch to load the bases, then senior Yoan De La Rosa (Bronx, N.Y./Morris/Monroe College) connected for a single and advanced to second on a throw, scoring both Carles and Peczynski. Minaudo later scored on a wild pitch before Muskingum was able to get out of the inning.
The Scots added an insurance run in the top of the seventh when junior Adam Thoryk (Syracuse, N.Y./John C. Birdlebough/St. John Fisher) homered to left field.
Senior pitcher Phil Jock (Memphis, Mich./Memphis) went the distance for the second time this season, striking out five batters while giving up six hits and three walks. Alma was able to connect for nine hits against the Muskies' pitching staff, as Muskingum used three pitchers in the contest.
Game 2 - Alma 11, at Muskingum 10 (10 innings)
Alma found itself down by at least five runs on two different occasions, but was able to muster a late-inning comeback to get the win, including five runs in the top of the ninth inning to send the game into extra innings.
Muskingum took a 6-0 lead after four innings before the Scots scored five straight, starting with a run in the top of the fifth when senior Dayne San Miguel (Wheeler, Mich./Breckenridge/Kellogg CC) scored on a fielder's choice by Peczynski. Alma tied the game in the top of the sixth with four runs. Minaudo was able to score off a single by senior Doug Walters (Brighton, Mich./Brighton) before Alma loaded the bases with one out. Walters crossed the plate on a wild pitch, junior Greg Goffee (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) scored on a balk and then San Miguel came home after Finn hit an RBI-double to center field to pull within one run at 6-5.
The Muskies answered with four straight runs to increase their lead to 10-5 heading into the ninth inning.
In the top of the ninth, the Scots put their first two batters on before Carles hts an RBI single to score Finn. Minaudo was walked to load the bases with nobody out, then after a Muskingum pitching change, De La Rosa hit a two RBI double to left field. Minaudo was able to score when Walters grounded out to third base, then Goffee hit the game-tying RBI, scoring De La Rosa on a single to center field.
After holding Muskingum in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings, Carles got on base in the top of the 10th with a single to left field, then stole second. Minaudo sent him home with a single to right field to give Alma its first lead of the game at 11-10.
In the bottom of the inning, Muskingum was able to load the bases with two outs, but De La Rosa put the game away when he caught a fly ball to force the third out.
Junior Mike Mallory (Ithaca, Mich./Ithaca) picked up the victory with 1.1 innings of work, while sophomore Eric Frontzak (Naperville, Ill./Montini Catholic) was credited with the save. Junior Alex Valasek (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel Catholic Central) got the start and completed four innings, striking out three of the 22 batters he faced.
The Scots' game on Saturday, March 19, against Penn State-Behrend was cancelled, so Alma is now scheduled to remain in New Concord for a Noon contest against Muskingum.