ALBION, Mich. — The spark came from an unlikely source.
Deadlocked at 2-2 in the eighth inning in Game 2 against Alma with two runners on and two out,
Anthony Roncone stepped up to the dish as a pinch hitter for
Logan Farmer.
The sophomore had never appeared in a collegiate game. On the first pitch against last year's conference saves leader, he poked a single to left center field that scored
Gavin White from third and
Carter Stahl from second that plated Albion's winning runs in their 4-2 victory over the Scots.
The victory gave Albion their 23rd of the season — their most since 2006. Game 1 resulted in a 6-3 loss for the Britons.
Game 1
Gavin White hit a sacrifice fly in the first to get Albion on the board. Then in the third, Alma scored a run on a fielder's choice and then another on a sacrifice fly to take a 2-1 lead.
The Scots added two more in the fourth on a groundout and error and make it a 4-1 contest.
Alma tacked on one run in both the fifth and sixth innings on a single and double. Albion scored two in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from
Tyler Murphy and a single from
Colin Terrill but could do no more damage.
Jack LaPorte and
Jonjay Arreazola posted two hits each, while
Daniel Bruzdewicz took the loss after starting the first four innings.
Ian Balint threw two innings, while
Zak Kelly followed him and pitched the final three giving up no hits, walking two and striking out two.
Game 2
Albion jumped on top early courtesy of a
Max Holser triple down the right field line in the first.
Alma got two more in the third on a groundout and single to knot the game up at 2-2 where it would remain until Roncone's eighth inning two-RBI single.
The Britons struggled offensively during the scoring drought, as they only managed five base runners during the stretch with only one getting into scoring position.
Then in the ninth,
Tyler Murphy notched his sixth save of the season after striking out the final batter with a runner on second.
Stahl went 3-for-3 at the dish as the Britons recorded five hits.
Brendan Schultz started the first three frames, while
Quinn Lewis provided four quality innings of relief allowing three hits, no runs and a walk.
Brandon Lipson got the win pitching in the eighth before Murphy's appearance in the ninth.
Up Next
With their victory over Alma on Thursday, the Britons clinched their first berth in the MIAA Tournament since 2019. They have officially clinched the No. 4 seed and will play at host No. 1 seed Adrian on Wednesday, May 6 at a time to be determined.
