Alice Lloyd Lady Eagles Softball battles UPike

Pikeville, KY: The Alice Lloyd College Lady Eagles softball team (3-7) returned to play on Monday, March 3rd, when they journeyed to Pikeville to face the UPike Lady Bears (2-3) in a twin bill. The games were hard-fought, but the hosts managed to take the sweep. 

March 3rd

Game 1

Alice Lloyd-4; UPike-5

The local ladies battled to the wire before dropping a close decision in the final inning.

The scoring started in the first when a single and throwing error enabled the Bears to plate a pair of runs (2-0). ALC would answer.

In the second, a single by Ellie Keene (C), combined with a double-steal and UPike error, permitted the Caney Creek club to knot the score, 2-2. They would then take the lead in the third when Maleigh McDaniel (P) singled, and Keen's second hit of the day delivered her home (3-2).

Things looked even rosier for the visitors in the fifth when Mckenzie Orfield (SS) teed off on a fastball and drove it over the left-field wall. Now, Alice Lloyd led 4-2.

UPike sliced the deficit in half in the bottom of the inning, using a pair of singles to produce a run. However, ALC still led 4-3 entering the sixth inning.

In the sixth inning, the Pippa Passes posse went down in order. Then, with two outs, an Eagle error, a walk, and a Pikeville single gave the home team a pair of scores. Suddenly, the Bears led 5-4.

In the ALC seventh inning, a two-out walk placed the tying run on base, but a ground ball registered the final out, handing the comeback victory to the hosts.

Orfield and Keene both had 2 hits. They were joined by Carlee Muncy (1B), as each registered 1 RBI.

On the mound, McDaniel took the tough loss. She went 5.2 innings, allowing 6 hits and 5 earned runs with 2 K's. Arin Rife relieved and struck out 1.

Both squads had 7 hits, but ALC committed more errors (3-2).

GAME 2

Alice Lloyd- 3; UPike-8 

The host club rode a big opening inning to take the second contest.

UPike scored 2 on a single, then delivered 2 more runs on a critical error. This gave them a fast 4-0 advantage after one inning of play.

A wild pitch enabled ALC to gain a run back in the second (4-1), only to see the Bears make that up with another single (5-1).

In the third, Alice Lloyd saw A. Rife came through with a run-producing single to make things 5-2. However, UP immediately responded by virtue of a triple and homerun. Now, the hosts led 7-2.

Pikeville added their 8th run of the game on a two-out single in the fifth (8-2). Down to their last at-bat, ALC would see Muncy unload on a pitch and send it soaring over the center field wall to start things right (8-3). Later, a rally seemed feasible as they placed runners on second and third with only one away. Unfortunately, the next two batters both drove the ball deep, but not deep enough, and the contest ended in favor of the big-city squad.

Muncy led ALC with 2 hits, and she and A. Rife each had an RBI. Their club was outhit 9-5.   

On the mound, A. Rife was unlucky, taking the loss despite allowing only 2 hits and 1 earned run in 4 innings. She struck out 7 batters. Kirsten Vice relieved and allowed 7 runs in 2 innings.

 A pair of errors hurt the Eagle cause.