OLIVET, Mich. – Albion College got quality starts from pitchers Mitch Shedlowsky and Scott Grant to gain 10-0 and 2-1 victories over Olivet College in its first Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association baseball doubleheader of the season.
The victories lift Albion to 6-5 overall. Albion and Olivet are scheduled to complete the weekend series with a pair of games at Albion's Champions Stadium at Frank Joranko Field on Sunday. The first pitch has been moved up to noon in hopes to get the games played before rain interrupts play.
Game 1: Albion 10, Olivet 0
Shedlowsky (2-1) was brilliant, scattering two hits and a walk in the complete seven-inning game. It was his fourth career shutout and he has not allowed over his last 11 innings.
The only pressure Shedlowsky encountered all game came in the second inning when Aaron Gillespie greeted him with a leadoff single down the left field line. Gillespie advanced to third on a pair of ground balls and the Comets had runners on the corners when Ben Compton drew a two-out walk. Shedlowsky got out of the inning by getting Hayden Zimmerman to fly out to right field.
Shedlowsky retired 12 batters in a row until Matt Hewitt hit a single with two out in the sixth.
Offensively, Albion was getting good swings, but it did have much to show for it until it scored seven times in the sixth inning. Andrew Arszulowicz, Joe Turnbull, and Drew Olszewski all drove in two runs for the Britons. Turnbull also scored twice.
Game 2: Albion 2, Olivet 1
Grant (1-2) went nine innings, allowing a run on eight hits with a career-high nine strikeouts. Grant's previous career high was eight strikeouts against St. Vincent College last March.
Albion forged a 1-1 tie when Matt Bur lifted a sacrifice fly to score Kellan Huang.
Albion advanced runners to second base in the seventh, eighth, and ninth, but it could not collect the clutch hit.
Olivet pitcher retired the first two Albion batters in the 10th, but Arszulowicz coaxed a walk and advanced to second on a balk. After a walk to Huang, Dylan Perry delivered the clutch hit, a single to bring Arszulowicz around to score.
Bret Chesla retired the Olivet batters in order in the bottom of the 10th to gain his first career save.
Twitter: @BritonsBaseball
Joe and Julie Serra have given a $5 million leadership gift to launch a fundraising initiative to make two dreams a reality at Albion College. The first is a newly expanded fitness and student activity facility at the site of the current Dow Recreation and Wellness Center. The second is a new or renovated competition facility for the volleyball, men's basketball and women's basketball that currently call Kresge Gymnasium home.
The College is continuing to raise funds in support of both projects. To learn more, call 517/629-0446 or email advancement@albion.edu.
