Baseball team splits doubleheader with Albion

The Olivet College baseball team split a doubleheader with Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Albion College this afternoon in Olivet. In the seventh inning of the first game, senior Sean Howard (Charlotte/Potterville) hit a triple in the right-centerfield gap to score freshman Matt Smoker (Bronson) with the winning run as the Comets edged the Britons, 8-7. In the nightcap, Albion scored four runs in the 12th inning to beat Olivet, 13-10.

In the first game, the Britons (9-11, 4-4 MIAA) scored a run in the top half of the first inning. The Comets answered with a run in their half of the first when sophomore Scott Purdy (Traverse City/West) lifted a sacrifice fly to leftfield to score senior Chris Shelhart (Rolling Meadows, Ill./St. Viator). Albion tied the game with an unearned run in the second.

Olivet (10-6, 4-4 MIAA) took a 5-2 lead with a pair of runs in the home half of the second and third innings. With runners on second and third base in the second, sophomore Cody Goodell (Davison) ripped a single through the right side of the infield to score the runners. In the third, senior Nate Rann's (Laingsburg) sacrifice fly scored the first run and the second run came on Howard's first collegiate home run. Albion took advantage of two Olivet errors to tie the game at 5-5 in the fourth. The Britons regained the lead at 6-5 with a leadoff home run in the fifth inning.

Three Albion errors allowed the Comets to take a 7-6 lead in the fifth. The Britons tied the game at 7-7 in the top half of the seventh. Purdy was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom half of the seventh. Smoker entered the game as a pinch runner for Purdy. After an out was recorded, Howard stepped to the plate and hit his triple on a 1-0 count.

For the game, Goodell was 3-for-3 with two RBI. Howard and Shelhart each had two hits, while Shelhart and senior Elliot Wilcox (Mattawan) each scored two runs. Howard and Rann recorded two RBI apiece. and On the mound, seniors Matt Emery (Glenco, Ontario/Regina) and Brian Schaeffer (Mason) combined to pitch six and one-third innings, but neither factored in the decision. Emery pitched four innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on nine hits. Schaeffer gave up one unearned run on two hits in two and one-third innings. Sophomore Steven Oginsky (New Lothrop) earned the win after getting the final two outs in the seventh.

In the nightcap, Olivet jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one inning. Senior Nick McIntosh (Petoskey) had a two-run single and Rann had a RBI-single in the inning. The Comets added another run in the second when the Albion was called for a balk with Shelhart on third base. The Britons got one run back in the third and took a 5-4 lead with a four-run fourth inning.

Olivet tied the game at 5-5 on junior Michael Katlin's (Howell) home run in the bottom half of the fourth. Albion regained the lead, 9-5, with a grand slam home run. The Comets cut their deficit to 9-6 with a run in the fifth when Purdy hit a home run over the rightfield fence. Olivet tied the game at 9-9 with three runs in the sixth. Smoker scored on Shelhart's triple. Shelhart scored when McIntosh blasted a two-run home run over the leftfield fence.

Neither team scored for five straight innings. Both teams had chances to score as they combined to leave 10 runners on base. Albion broke the scoreless innings streak with four runs in the top half of the 12th inning. The Comets did not go down quietly as they scored one run and brought the tying run to the plate in their half of the 12th.

At the plate, McIntosh, Rann and Shelhart each had two hits. McIntosh collected a team-high four RBI, while Shelhart scored a team-high four runs. On the mound, junior Dave Pembroke (Bay City/John Glenn) started and pitched four innings, allowing five runs (one earned) on 10 hits. Schaeffer, junior Ed O'Brien (Stockbridge) and senior Derek Ott (Kawkawlin/Bay City Western) all pitched in relief. Oginsky was credited with the loss, tossing six innings. He gave up four runs (two earned) on four hits, while striking out five and walking four.

The Comets' next MIAA series is against Adrian College Wednesday, April 4 and Saturday, April 7. Wednesday's doubleheader will be played at Adrian's Riverside Park at 2 p.m. and Saturday's doubleheader in Olivet will start at 1 p.m.