Baseball team loses twice to Albion, 8-2 and 3-2

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College baseball team lost two games to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Albion College today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The Britons won the first game, 8-2, and scored two runs in the sixth inning to win the second game, 3-2.

In the first game, Albion pushed across an unearned run in the first inning. The Comets took a 2-1 lead with a pair of runs in the third inning on an RBI-groundout from sophomore Jonny Zawacki (Alpena) and RBI-single from junior Andrew Brawley (Niles). The Britons took a 5-2 lead with a four-run fourth inning and put the game away with a three-run fifth. After scoring the runs in the third, Olivet failed to get another runner in scoring position for the rest of the game.

For the game, the Comets had only six hits. Five singles by five different players, and a double by freshman Drew Thompson (Canton/Plymouth). On the mound, junior Jay Magro (Bridgman) suffered his first loss in MIAA play. He gave up eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits over four and two-thirds innings. Junior Justin Pitt (Imlay City) threw two and one-third innings of scoreless relief.

In the second game, Olivet took a 1-0 lead with a run in the fourth inning. After the Britons plated a run in the top half of the fifth to tie the game, the Comets manufactured another run in the bottom half of the inning to regain the lead. Albion used a two-out rally in the sixth inning to score its two runs. Olivet had the tying and go-ahead runs on base with only one out in the bottom of the seventh inning but a foul fly to the catcher and groundout ended the game.

The Comets recorded seven hits in the game, with senior Tyler Olinske (Negaunee) and sophomore Joel Peters (Auburn Hills/Avondale) collecting two apiece. Zawacki's leadoff double in the fourth inning was the only extra base hit. Senior Sean Alexander (Fenton) was the losing pitcher, as he allowed the three runs on nine hits and struck out four. In addition, Alexander is now the Olivet career leader with 14 complete games.

Olivet and Albion will complete the four-game series with a doubleheader tomorrow at Frank Joranko Field in Albion, starting at 1 p.m.