Baseball team splits twinbill at Albion

The Olivet College baseball team split a doubleheader against Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Albion College this afternoon at Frank Joranko Field in Albion. The Comets won the first game, 6-3, and in the nightcap, the Britons rallied for three runs in the seventh inning for an 8-7 win.

The first game was scoreless for the first three innings. Olivet opened the scoring with a three-run fourth inning and added two more runs in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead. The Britons tallied two runs in their half of the fifth inning and another run in the sixth inning to cut their deficit to 5-3. The Comets added an insurance run in the seventh. In the bottom half of the seventh, Albion had runners on first and second base with nobody out. Olivet got out of the jam with a double play and lineout.

Offensively, every Comet starter had at least one base hit. Freshman Ben Kosmalski (Canton/Plymouth) led the way, as he went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI. Junior Scott Purdy (Traverse City/West) had two base hits. On the mound, senior David Pembroke (Bay City/John Glenn) started and pitched five and two-thirds innings to win his third straight game. He gave up three runs (two earned) on eight hits, while striking out three. In relief, freshman Braydon LaFramboise (Flushing/Mt. Morris) pitched an inning and third for his first collegiate save.

In the nightcap, Albion tallied single runs in the first and third innings. Olivet sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the fourth inning. The Britons made the score 7-5 when they pushed across three runs in their half of the fourth. Neither team scored in the fifth and sixth innings, setting the stage for Albion's seventh-inning rally.

For the game, junior Brandon Goodman (Portage/Central) had two of the five Comet hits. He also drove in two runs. On the mound, freshman Sean Alexander (Fenton) pitched the first three and two-thirds innings. He did not factor in the decision despite giving up five earned runs on eight hits. In relief, LaFramboise was tagged with the loss.

The teams will complete the four-game series Saturday with a doubleheader in Olivet, beginning at 1 p.m. However, tomorrow, the Comets will travel to play a nine-inning non-conference game at the University of Toledo (Ohio).