Baseball team swept by Albion, 8-7 and 14-7

The Olivet College baseball team was swept by Albion College in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader, 8-7 and 14-7, today at Frank Joranko Field in Albion. The first game went eight innings. The two teams will complete the four-game MIAA series Saturday with a doubleheader in Olivet, beginning at 1 p.m.

In the first game, Albion took a 3-0 lead with three runs in the second inning. The Comets answered by scoring two runs in the top half of the third on senior Nick McIntosh's (Petoskey) two-run single. After the Britons scored a run in the sixth, Olivet forced extra innings by scoring two runs in the seventh. The first run of the inning came in on a passed ball and the second run scored on an infield single by McIntosh.

In the top half of the eighth, the Comets scored three runs on a RBI-single by junior Eric Quinn (Fort Gratiot/Port Huron Northern) and a two-run double by McIntosh. With two outs in the bottom half of the eighth, Albion scored four runs, including a walk-off three-run homer.

At the plate, McIntosh was three-for-five with five RBI. Six other Olivet players each had a hit. On the mound, senior Brad Dragicevich (Kalamazoo/Central) pitched the first six and one-third innings. He allowed four runs on 13 hits, while striking out four batters. Freshman Steve Oginsky (New Lothrop) was the hard luck loser. He tossed the final inning and one-third, yielding four runs on three hits.

In the nightcap, the Comets had a 7-1 lead after their half of the fifth inning. The Britons sent 17 batters to the plate and scored 13 runs on eight hits in their half of the fifth. At the plate, senior Sean Howard (Charlotte/Potterville) collected two hits, including a double. The only other extra base hit for Olivet was a solo home run by McIntosh.

On the mound, senior Elliot Wilcox (Mattawan) was charged with the loss, giving up eight runs on seven hits in four and two-thirds innings. He struck out five and walked five. Three relievers combined to allow six runs on four hits.

Following the completion of this series, the Comets will play a four-game series against Adrian College. Next Wednesday's (April 4) doubleheader at Adrian will start at 2 p.m., followed by a doubleheader next Saturday, April 7, in Olivet at 1 p.m.