Derek Almeda had four hits in the Aces' win.  

Written by Erin Hughes | Photo by Maya Brichacek

Following a 9-3 loss in the completion of a makeup game Saturday afternoon, the Alexandria Aces bounced back to beat the Metro South County Braves 5-2 in Alexandria on Saturday night.

Cooper Hums (Western Michigan) singled to start off the home half of the first, and Derek Almeda (Chaffey) joined him on the basepaths after a single of his own. Ernie Echevarria (Penn) launched a homer to left field to clear the bases and give the Aces an early 3-0 lead. Two more runners reached base in the inning before Kyndall Cassidy (Ouachita Baptist) sat the last two batters down to keep the Aces at three runs.

Charlie Brinkman (Liberty) showed off his speed to start the second inning as he lined a leadoff triple into the right field corner. After two strikeouts by Aidan Von Zuben, Aleksei Goldhill (Bryant) singled to plate Brinkman. A third strikeout ended the inning, but the Braves were climbing back.

In the top of the fourth, Brinkman singled to lead off the frame before he showed off his speed yet again, scoring from first on a double by Michael Lavanga (Harford CC). 

The Aces found themselves with the bases loaded and no outs to start the bottom half of the fourth. Almeda singled to score Will Twomey (Michigan) and Echevarria walked to bring home Hums. New pitcher Tom Bourque (William & Mary) struck out the next three batters to end the inning with the bases loaded, but the Aces now led 5-2.

Aces’ righty Steven Svenson (Seton Hall) entered in the fifth and retired the side on three straight swinging strikeouts. In the bottom half of the frame, Bourque pitched around a two out walk to toss his fourth, fifth, and sixth straight strikeouts.

Both pitchers fanned a batter and both of their catchers, Echevarria for the Aces and Ryan Santangelo (Bryant) for the Braves, caught runners stealing in the sixth.

Reliever Stephen Curry (Seton Hall) sealed the win by pitching a scoreless top of the seventh, assisting in a 1-4-3 double play to highlight the inning.