Baseball team loses game one, 19-6, wins game two, 10-5, at Albion

ALBION, Mich. – The Olivet College baseball team split a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader with Albion College today at Frank Joranko Field in Albion. After losing the first game, 19-6, the Comets salvaged the split with a 10-5 win in game two.

Without needing a hit, Olivet pushed across a pair of runs in the top half of the first inning in game one. The Britons responded with a three spot in their half of the first. The Comets quickly tied the game at 3-3 when junior Tom Kort (New Hudson/South Lyon) hit his first collegiate home run to lead off the second inning.

Albion re-gained the lead with a run in the bottom half of the second. But Olivet took the lead back with a pair of runs in the third inning. Senior Joel Peters (Troy/Avondale) walked with the bases loaded to bring in the first run and then Kort knocked-in the second run with a single.

The Britons sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six runs in the home half of the third. Albion pushed across two more runs in the fourth, five runs in the fifth and two runs in the sixth to take a 19-5 lead. The Comets scored their final run in the top half of the seventh on a throwing error.

Olivet finished the game with seven hits, led by Kort's 2-for-3 performance. Five others each had one hit. Freshman Christopher Lanyi (Clio) scored two runs. Junior Jimmy Schoof (Merrill) started but did not factor in the decision, as he gave up three runs on two hits in his only inning on the mound. Sophomore Mitch Galloway (Coldwater) was charged with the loss after allowing seven runs on six hits in an inning and one-third.

In game two, the Comets plated two runs in the first inning on a RBI-double by senior Dylan Betcher (Lansing/Everett) and sacrifice fly by Lanyi. The Britons forged a 2-2 tie with a pair of runs in the second inning. Olivet grabbed a 4-2 lead when junior Peter Panos (Davison) hit a two-run single in the third.

Albion got one run back in the bottom half of the third. The Comets responded with three runs in the fourth inning to take an 7-3 lead. Olivet added another run in the fifth inning on squeeze play by freshman Andrew Dayfield (Brownston/Woodhaven).

The Britons also scored a run in the fifth on a leadoff home run. Junior Beau Langs (Climax/Climax-Scotts) hit a two-run single for the Comets in the seventh inning. Albion plated a run in the home half of the seventh but it was not enough to overcome its deficit.

Both teams recorded 10 hits. Dayfield was 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored. Langs, Panos and junior Nicolai Jump (Williamston) also had two hits apiece. Betcher, Langs and Panos each collected two RBI.

Sophomore Jared Scheese (Chelsea) earned the pitching win. He yielded four runs (three earned) on nine hits in five innings. Sophomore Stephen Botti (Decatur) pitched the final two innings in relief.

Olivet is scheduled to host Rochester College for a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. The Comets will close the 2014 season Friday and Saturday with a four-game MIAA series against Hope College. Friday's doubleheader will be played at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet at 2 p.m., while Saturday's doubleheader is at Boeve Field in Holland at 1 p.m.