Alice Lloyd College Lady Eagles Softball Travels to Point Park for RSC Doubleheader

Pittsburgh, PA: The Alice Lloyd College Lady Eagles ventured to Pittsburg (PA) on April 2nd for a doubleheader with River States Conference opponent, Point Park University. After the day ended, the hosts had taken the series to run their record to 8-8 (5-3 RSC), while ALC fell to 7-17 (2-10 RSC).

April 2

GAME ONE

PPU-12; Alice Lloyd-1

The Pennsylvania club took the series opener in five innings with impressive pitching.

Things started poorly for the Bluegrass girls as they committed three costly errors in the opening inning to allow the hosts to race ahead 3-0. ALC earned a run back in the second when Chloe Taylor (SS) singled (3-1), but a big 3-run blast from the Pioneers in the same inning, followed by a run-producing single, eventually vaulted them ahead, 7-1. In the third, Point Park gained another score on a fielder's choice (8-1), then received a double and single in the fifth to gain another four-spot (12-1). They would then close the game as their pitching remained in command.

At the plate, Rachel Rife (LF) doubled, for the only extra-base hit on the day. On the mound, Maleigh Mcdaniel started and went just 1.1 innings, allowing 4 hits and 4 earned runs in taking the loss. Haley Howell, Carly Creech, and Mckenzie Orfield all pitched in relief. They combined to give up 8 hits and 6 runs.

PPU won the hitting battle, 12-6, but ALC also hurt themselves with 4 errors.

GAME TWO

PPU-5; Alice Lloyd-2

The Pippa Passes ladies battled well, but for the second straight game, hurt themselves with errors as the hosts claimed the sweep.

PPU got out of the gate quickly in the second inning. Aided by two costly Eagle errors, three unearned runs were able to cross home (3-0). In the ALC half of the third, the bats finally came to life. In that inning, Ellie Keene (CF) and Lyndsey Adkins (1B) reached base. Then, Mcdaniel lined a single up the gap to plate both. Suddenly the Caney Creek crew only trailed 3-2. They looked to plate more, but the rally would fizzle out.

Unfortunately, the Pennsylvania team received an important unearned run in the fourth on a grounder (4-2), then gained extra insurance in the fifth on a long fly-out to center (5-2). From that point, their pitching would slam the door shut to seal the deal.

For ALC, Keene had half of her club's 4 hits while Mcdaniel had both RBIs. Pitcher Kursten Napier took the loss despite pitching a solid game. She went 4.1 innings and gave up 5 hits, and 5 runs, but just 1 was earned. Baylee Cox relieved the final 1.2 innings and was steady, giving up just 1 hit. She whiffed 2 batters.

ALC lost a close-hitting battle 6-4 but committed the only 4 errors of the game, which proved too difficult to overcome.