Red-hot ALC Softball closes regular season with sweep at Ohio Christian University; head into post season 34-12

Circleville, OH: The Alice Lloyd Lady Eagles softball crew concluded the regular season by venturing to the Buckeye State for a 4-game series against the Ohio Christian University Lady Trailblazers (10-31). The Bluegrass bashers continued their incredible play as they swept the series to pick up their 12^th consecutive win and 25^th victory in their last 26-games. They now head into post-season play looking to add to their sparkling 34-12 record, which is the best in school history.

April 24th

Game 1 Five Innings)

Alice Lloyd-8: OCU-0

The Lady Eagles played steady ball and took the opener in a shut-out.

The good-feelings began in the second when Arin Rife (1B) opened with a single and walked home on a big 2-run blast provided by catcher Whitney Lippert (2-0).

In the third, after a pair of Lady Eagles drew walks, a single from Chloe Taylor (2B) plated another pair of runs. ALC now led 4-0.

 In the very next inning, the Kentucky crew delivered another pair of runs after Abby Maynard (DP) singled, OCU threw a wild pitch, and the guests delivered a sacrifice fly. This made the score 6-0.

Finally, in the fifth, Rife singled and mistakes from the home team loaded the bases. Eventually, two runners raced home on a crucial error from the Ohio club, and set the scoreboard to 8-0.

Ohio Christian would go down in order in the bottom of the inning to conclude the festivities.

At the plate, Rife and Maynard each rapped 2 hits while Lippert delivered 4 monster RBIs.

On the mound, Kinna Justice continued her excellent senior season by allowing just 3 hits and 1 walk. She whiffed 1 and was in command the entire match.

The Lady Eagles controlled the hitting battle, 7-3 and committed 0 errors (2-0).  

GAME 2 (Seven Innings)

Alice Lloyd-18: OCU-2

The Caney Creekers put on a hitting clinic with a seasons-best run-fest.

The Bluegrass bunch sprinted ahead out of the dugout, as consecutive doubles from Jordan Rakes (LF) and Mackenzie Orfield (3B), combined with a single from Brooke Baker (SS) made the score 3-0.

in the second inning, OCU made a pair of errors, which gifted the mountain mashers a gift run (3-0). They then added to their lead in the fourth.

In that at-bat, singles from Lippert, Justice (DP), and Shana Ray (RF), plus a Baker triple, produced an impressive 4-run inning to add to the advantage, 8-0.

In the bottom portion of the fifth, OCU was gifted a score on an Eagle error (8-1). The squad did make up for that in the sixth.

In that opportunity, Rife delivered once more with an RBI-single (9-1). However, her club gave that back in the same inning, courtesy of an error (9-2).  Happily, the Pippa Passes punishers would more than make amends in the seventh.

In the final inning, ALC unloaded as a Orfield double, 6 singles, 4 walks, and a hit-batter provided a monster 9-run windfall to ice the contest, 18-2.,

Orfield and Baker both popped 4 hits while Rakes added a trio to the cause. Baker delivered 5 huge RBIs.

On the mound, Rife continued her incredible season, taking the victory. In five innings, she gave up just 4 hits and 2 unearned runs. She walked 3 and whiffed 5.

Justice relieved for the sixth inning, allowing 1 hit and 1 run while Katie Samuel closed out the seventh, allowing 0 hits.

The Eagles dominated in hits 16-5, and saw their 3 errors wiped out by the Trailblazers 6.

 April 24th

Game 3 (Seven Innings)

The Lady Eagles played steady ball and took another 'W' in 4-1 fashion

The scoreboard remained unchanged until the third inning. At that point, Newport singled and Orfield doubled to break the ice, 1-0. However, OCU answered immediately when they came up with an RBI double of their own (1-1).

Happily, in the fifth, singles from the quartet of Rakes, Rife (P), Baker and Taylor paid dividends and changed the scoreboard to 4-1.

That would be all Justice would need as she retired the final eight Trailblazers she faced to secure her 11^th pitching victory this season

At the plate, Rife and Newport carved out 3 and 2 hits respectively, while that duo and Taylor each had 1RBI.

On the mound, Justice allowed just 5 hits and 1 walk. She walked 0 and whiffed 1, being in complete control once again.

The Lady Eagles took the hitting battle 9-5, and both clubs made 1 error.

GAME 4 (Seven Innings)

Alice Lloyd-4: OCU-1

The Caney Creekers closed the regular season the right way with another 4-1 win.

The Bluegrass bunch broke the ice in the second as a pair of walks and Ray single started things right (2-0).

Ohio Christian sliced the deficit in half in the bottom of the inning with a triple and grounder (2-1). This would be the line extra-base hit Rife would allow all weekend.

Thankfully, in the third, Rakes, Baker, and Justice (DH) all singled to add another pair of runs, 4-1.

This would be all Rife needed as she allowed no other Trailblazers to advance past first base the remainder of the night to clinch the victory...

Rakes, Justice, Ray, Orfield and Baker all had 1 hit with Orfield, Justice, Ray, and Maynard recorded 1 RBI apiece.

On the mound, Rife earned an ALC record 15^th pitching win of the season, tossing a complete-game 5-hitter with 1 earned run, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts.

The squads tied in hits, 5-5, and OCU's 3 errors were more than the Eagles 2.