Ionia took a ten-run defeat the last time they faced off against Alma, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Bulldogs sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 10-9 win over the Panthers on Thursday. Considering the Bulldogs' hitters had been struggling lately, the high-scoring outing was a much-needed turnaround.
Allison Shaw was a standout: she went a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and two RBI. That home run was her first of the season. Allyson Schmid was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBI, and one double.

Bulldogs
| 04/23/26 @ Alma | 51.4% |
| 04/14/26 @ Charlotte | 41.2% |
| 04/17/26 vs Fowlerville | 37.5% |
| 04/21/26 vs Eaton Rapids | 31% |
Ionia always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .514. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Ionia moved to 2-5 with that victory, which also ended their three-game losing streak. As for Alma, they are on a six-game losing streak that has dropped them down to 0-6.
Looking ahead, Ionia will head out to challenge Portland at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. As for Alma, they will welcome St. Louis at 9:00 p.m. on Saturday. The Panthers' pitchers better be ready for this one: the Sharks have averaged an impressive 9.9 runs per game this season.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps