Alice Lloyd softball battles Oakland City University (2024)

Pippa Passes, KY:On March 30, the Alice Lloyd College Lady Eagles softball team played host to the Oakland City Lady Oaks in a twin bill. The home team left everything on the field but came up short in two challenging contests. ALC's record now sits at 14-18 (3-13 RSC), while OCU moves to 18-14 (7-7 RSC).

Game 1

Alice Lloyd-2; OCU-4

Oakland City scored all of their runs in the first inning and then held on to pull out the win.

In their opening at-bat, the visitors would use a double and a pair of singles to gain a run (1-0). Then, with two Oaks on base, a blast over the left field fence raised the Indiana club's cushion to 4-0.

Carlee Muncy (1B) would lead off with a single in the bottom half of the second inning. She would eventually score on a double from Chloe Taylor (2B) to make the score 4-1.

Mckenzie Orfield (SS) singled in the third, then came around to score on pitcher Maleigh McDaniel's single. Now, the Bluegrass ladies only trailed 4-2.

In the fourth and fifth innings, the Caney Creek crew would place runners on base, but each time, they could not provide the big hit when they needed one.

Finally, in the final inning, the blue and white got another runner on base and brought the game-tying run to the plate. Unfortunately, a pop-up in the infield ended the drama.

For the Lady Eagles, who registered 6 hits, McDaniel went 3-3 to lead the club, while Orfield added two hits. McDaniel and Taylor delivered the RBI's.

McDaniel started, went the distance, and took the tough loss on the mound. Sheallowed 11 hits and 4 earned runs with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts.

The Oaks had 11 hits on the day. The Lady Eagles committed the only error.

Alice Lloyd-6; OCU-7

The Pippa Passes crew jumped out to a sold lead before dropping a disappointing, late-inning decision.

The hosts saw McDaniel (SS) deliver a two-out single in their opening at-bat. She then scored on a single from pitcher Kirsten Vice (1-0). Carlee Muncy (1B) followed and delivered her own single to put her squad ahead, 2-0

In the next inning, a pair of singles from Katie Deeds (C) and Aubree Laster (RF), plus a hit batsman, loaded the bases for the Lady Eagles with nobody out. However, OCU would hold the Kentucky ladies to jut a single score (3-0).

Then, in the third, the Caney Creek crew struck again as singles from Vice and Orfield, combined with a Muncy double, plated three more runs. Heading into the fourth, ALC led 6-0 and was in complete control.

In the momentum-changing inning, Oakland City led off with a trio of singles to load the bases. Then, with one out, a double cleared the bases (6-3). The next Lady Oak promptly drove the ball over the fence, and the deficit was suddenly reduced to a single run, 6-5.

The Lady Eagles appeared poised to answer right back in the bottom half of the inning when they placed runners on second and third with nobody out. Surprisingly, the next three batters would go down in succession, and OCU's momentum grew.

The Indiana team would single a run home in the fifth to tie things (6-6) and see two other runners reach base, advancing to scoring position. Fortunately for the home team, they got out of the inning with no further damage.

The Bluegrass battlers placed a runner on in the fifth, but she remained stranded on base. Then, in the sixth, they place another runner on base, but that rally would also fizzle out.

In their final at-bat, the Indiana team broke through with a double and single to gain the tie-breaking run, 7-6.

ALC looked to respond when a one-out error by the Oaks placed the tying run on base. Unfortunately, a strikeout and pick-off at second ended the contest.

For the Eagles, Aspyn Branham (3B), Vice, Deeds, and Muncycame through with 2 hits, while six players drove in 1 run.

On the mound,Vice started and went four innings, allowing 5 runs and 6 hits. She struck out 1 and walked 0. She was relieved by Rylee Cox, who went the final three innings, allowing 4 hits and 2 runs, with 2 strikeouts and 2 walks.

The Indiana club would win the hitting battle 12-10 and commit 2 errors compared to ALC's 1. The hosts swiped a pair of bases.