Baseball team splits doubleheader against Albion

OLIVET, Mich. – Junior Austin Cleaver hit a walk-off single to score junior Brady Johnson in the 11th inning, as the Olivet College baseball team beat Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Albion College, 7-6, in the first game of a doubleheader today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The Britons came back to win the nightcap, 2-0.

In the opener, Albion scored a run in the first inning. The Comets came back to take a 2-1 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of second. Senior Zach Kitzmiller drove in senior Stephen Botti with the first run on a single down the left field line. Kitzmiller took second base on the throw to the plate and then went to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Sophomore Connor Murney hit a single to plate Kitzmiller.

Olivet added to its lead with two more runs in the third inning. Cleaver led off with a single, stole second base and crossed the plate on Kitzmiller's single. After Kitzmiller got to third base on an error by the Briton third baseman, Murney brought him home with a sacrifice fly.

Albion tied the game with three runs in the fourth inning and took a 5-4 lead with a single tally in the fifth inning. In the fifth, the Britons left two runners stranded in scoring position.

Olivet came back to take a 6-5 lead with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. With runners on second and third, junior Andrew Dayfield grounded out to plate sophomore Luke Spotts with the tying run but keep Johnson at second base. Cleaver then hit the ball through the legs of the shortstop to allow Johnson to come across with the go-ahead run.

In the top half of the seventh, Albion loaded the bases with two outs. A walk on a 3-2 pitch brought home the tying run. The Comets escaped any more damage with a foul out to end the inning. Olivet went down in order in the home half of the seventh.

Albion's batters were retired 1-2-3 in the eighth inning. The Comets had the winning run thrown out at the plate in the bottom half of the eighth inning. Both teams left a runner stranded in the ninth inning. In the top half of the 10th, the Britons had the go-ahead run tagged out at the plate on a suicide squeeze play. Olivet did not generate a scoring chance in its half of the 10th, and neither did Albion in the top half of the 11th.

The Comets scored the winning run in their half of the 11th. Johnson walked to start the inning. Dayfield sacrificed him over to second base. On the first pitch to Cleaver, Johnson stole second base. With the infielders drawn in at the cut of the infield grass, Cleaver lined a full-count pitch over the out-stretched glove of the shortstop to score Johnson.

At the plate, Olivet recorded 13 hits. Cleaver was 3-for-5 with one run scored and the game-winning RBI. Kitzmiller was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Botti and Spotts had two hits apiece.

Senior Mitch Galloway started on the mound but got a no-decision. He allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits in four and one-third innings, while striking out five batters. Senior Ryan Roeske recorded an out against the only batter he faced. Senior Tyler Parish threw two and one-third innings of relief, giving up just the one run on one hit. Sophomore Michael O'Brien tossed four scoreless innings to earn the win.

In the nightcap, the Britons scored the only two runs they would need in the first inning on a two-run home run by Michael Fischbach. Albion pitcher Mitch Shedlowsky was brilliant on the mound, throwing a no-hitter against the Comets. All six of the Olivet base runners reached base on walks, including two for Cleaver. Sophomore Aiden Holliday gave up the two first-inning runs and settled down to allow only five more hits over the final five and one-third innings. Roeske gave up a hit before getting the final two outs in the seventh.

Olivet is scheduled to play a nine-inning, non-conference game tomorrow at Oakland University.