Baseball team loses two close games to Albion, 3-2 and 6-4
The Olivet College baseball team lost a pair of close games to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Albion College today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The Britons scored three runs in the sixth inning to pull out a come-from-behind 3-2 win in game one, and scored five times in the third inning en route to a 6-4 win in the nightcap.
In the first game, Olivet plated a run in the first inning when junior Ben Kosmalski (Canton/Plymouth) scored after reaching base on an error by the Britons' shortstop. The Comets added to their lead with a run in the fourth. Junior Beau Felix (Hartland) singled to start the inning and then scored on a double steal. Albion scored its three runs after two outs were recorded. Olivet had the bases loaded with nobody out in the bottom of seventh. A pop out to short and A foul out to left with the runner from third being thrown out at the plate on the play got the Britons out of the jam and steal the game.
The Comets finished the game with five hits. Felix went 2-for-2 with two singles, one run scored and one RBI. On the mound, freshman Ryan Pitt (Imlay City) suffered the hard luck loss, as he gave up just three runs on four hits in seven complete innings.
In the nightcap, Albion scored the five runs, including four unearned, in the third inning. Olivet pushed across two unearned runs in the fourth inning. After the Britons tacked on an unearned run in the fifth, the Comets answered with two runs in their half of the fifth. Olivet had the tying runs on the base paths in the seventh but Albion wiggled out of the situation to preserve its win and the doubleheader sweep.
Olivet out-hit the Britons, 11-4. Felix collected two hits, including one double. He also scored once and drove in a run. Senior Erik McCloud walked twice and had a base hit. Senior Josh Norlock (Warren/Centerline) was charged with the loss. He allowed four runs on one hit in two innings.
The Comets will play Calvin College in a four-game series, beginning next Friday, April 23, with a doubleheader in Olivet. Game time is 2 p.m.