ALC Softball wins 4-3 extra-inning thriller against Kentucky Christian in Mideast Regional Tournament, advance to finals

Pippa Passes, KY: The #1 seeded Alice Lloyd Lady Eagles softball squad returned to the diamond in the double-elimination NCCAA Mideast Regional Tournament on May 4th, facing the #2 seeded Kentucky Christian University Knights, who had opened play with a impressive 12-1 victory over the Grace University Tiger. In this matchup, the Caney Creek crew rallied from a 2-run deficit in the seventh inning,and eventually won the contest with a clutch base-hit in the ninth inning.

 May 4th

Game 1 (Nine Innings)

Alice Lloyd-4: KCU-3

The Eagles struck right out of the gate. Mackinzie Newport (CF) opened play with a big triple and scored on a grounder by Jordan Rakes (LF) to jump ahead, 1-0. KCU would soon answer.

In the bottom of the second, a walk and pair of singles allowed the Grayson ballclub to move in front, 2-1. Then, in the fourth, the Knights added to their lead when another duo of singles gave the city-club a 3-1 advantage. Things would hold until the seventh inning.

Faced with a do-or-die scenario, "The Pass" responded. After the opening batter lined out, Brooke Baker (SS) and Chloe Taylor delivered a single and double respectively. This was followed by a huge 2-run single, courtesy of catcher Whitney Lippert. Now, the contest was knotted up at 3-3, and would enter extra-innings.

In the top of the eighth, ALC loaded the bases with one away, but the Knights were able to get out of the jam. However, Pippa Passes pitcher Arin Rife took KCU down in order to send the contest into a ninth inning.

In the ninth, Lippert opened with a single, and eventually moved to third on a pair of pop-ups. Then, with two away, Newport laced a  clutch grounder into the gap to deliver her home and break the tie. Now, the blue and white had to hold their 4-3 advantage.

In the bottom of the inning, Rife ended all drama as she induced a pop-up for out one, then whiffed the final pair of Knights to hand the hard-fought victory to the home club.

At the plate, Newport and Baker both knocked 3 hits while Lippert (C) added a pair and drove in the 2 huge runs.

On the mound, Kinna Justice started and was steady, allowing 8 hits, 4 walks, and 3 runs.

Rife went the final 3.2 innings in relief to take the win. She gave up just 1 hit while striking out 3 batters in an impressive showing.

The victors led in hits 10-9, and the match was error-free.

KCU will now play Grace Christian once again on Tuesday at 1:00pm in the double-elimination format. The winner of that contest wil next face ALC at 3:00pm. If ALC wins, they seal the championship but if not, their will be one additional match to see who represents the Mideast Region in the NCCAA Softball World Series.