ALC Lady Eagles Softball earns sweep over Union Commonwealth University

Pippa Passes, KY: The Alice Lloyd College Lady Eagles (5-5)  were home on Tuesday, February 17th for a doubleheader against the Union Commonwealth Lady Bulldogs (3-3). The home fans would leave happy as they witnessed their club captured both contests.

 February 17th

Game 1

Alice Lloyd-7: Union-6 (Eight Innings) 

ALC would rally to take the opener in thrilling fashion.

The game remained scoreless through three innings. Finally, in the fourth, the Bulldogs used a double, and a pair of crucial ALC errors to produce five massive runs (5-0).

In the very next inning, Union would plate another score, this time, on an RBI-single. This gave the visitors a massive 6-0 advantage, and they appeared home-free. Happily for the hometown fans, the momentum would soon change.

In the bottom of the fifth, Mackenzie Newport (CF) and Katie Deeds (1B) would reach base. Next, Rachel Rife would line a clutch double to the outfield, scoring both. When Brooke Baker (SS) then promptly stroked a single, Rife sprinted home to slice the deficit in half, 6-3.

In the sixth, Newport came through with another single, and Jordan Rakes (RF) raced home. This made the score 6-4.

In the seventh, and down a pair of runs, the Caney Creek crew saw Baker and Mckenzie Orfield (3B) reach second and third. On the next pitch, Baker stole home (6-5) and Orfield took third. Then, with Briley Aidala (C) on first, she broke for second. In the aftermath, Orfield snuck home, and the contest was suddenly tied up. 6-6. The game would go to extra-innings.

In the top of the eighth, the stunned Bulldogs went down in order. Then in the bottom of the inning, Lady Eagle Kinna Justice (P/2B) walked and worked her way to third base. Newport than strolled to bat and promptly lined a single over the firstbaseman to deliver the game-winning RBI for the Pass.

 At the plate, Newport was big, going 3-4 with the game-winner. Deeds and Rachel Rife both added 2 hits. while Newport and Rachel Rife both produced a pair of RBI's.

On the mound, Justice went seven gritty innings, allowing 9 hits and 6 runs, with only 2 being earned. She also struck out 3 and walked just 2. Arin Rife relieved for the final inning and took the win. She retired all three batters she faced, with 1 K.

The Lady Eagles won the hitting war, 11-9, and won despite 5 critical errors.

GAME 2

Alice Lloyd-3: Union-1

 ALC struck early and held on with solid pitching and defense to preserve the victory. 

The Caney Creek crew attacked right out of the gate. In the first inning , after Rachel Rife (LF) and Brooke Baker (SS) both singled, Arin Rife (P) promptly smacked a double  to make the score 2-0.

Later, in the Lady Eagle third, Mckenzie Orfield singled. After advancing down the basepaths, she would trot home when Chloe Taylor (2B) lined a single up the middle. This gave ALC a 3-0 cushion.

The Bulldogs would eat into that deficit slightly in the fourth when they knocked a solo-homerun (3-1). However, they would be held with no more scores as the rally ended.

From that point, UC would be kept in check as the Pippa Passes posse slammed the door to secure the nice victory.

Rife led the way as she performed impressive double-duty. At the plate, she went 2-3 with a pair of RBI's. On the mound, she allowed only 4 hits and 1 run, while striking out 7, and walking just 2, to earn the win.

The Lady Eagles won the hitting war, 8-4 and had the only error of the day.