ANGOLA, Ind. – Albion College swept a Sunday doubleheader from Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association rival Trine University by scores of 3-1 and 8-4 to amass 22 victories in a season for the first time since 2007.
The Britons finished the regular season in third place with a 17-11 record in MIAA games. That's also Albion's best finish in the league since 2007. Albion will travel to Hope College for a 4 p.m. Wednesday game in the first round of the MIAA Tournament. After the Wednesday game, the remainder of the tournament will shift to Nicolay Field at Adrian College.
Game One: Albion 3, Trine 1
Albion never trailed in the game.
Drew Olszewski reached base on a throwing error by the pitcher with one out in the first inning. He stole second with two out and scored on a Justin Charron single.
Albion completed its scoring in the third Kellan Huang hit a double to score Sean Haddlesey and Huang scored on a single by Andrew Arszulowicz.
Starting pitcher Drew Weaver (4-3) allowed a run on five hits with four strikeouts. Huang allowed the a bunt single to the first batter he faced in sixth inning, but he retired the next six batters (including three by strikeout) to gain his second save of the season.
Game Two: Albion 8, Trine 4
Albion slugged five extra base hits – Riley Stesiak and Dylan Perry hit homeruns, Charron hit a pair of doubles and Joe Turnbull hit a double – as Albion took three of four in the series.
The game was scoreless until the fourth. Charron hit a one out double down the left field line and he scored on Matt Bur's two out single.
Albion tacked on two more in the fifth on Stesiak's fourth shot of the season and Olszewski's RBI single.
Stesiak scored on a wild pitch and Turnbull hit a sacrifice fly to send a run home in the sixth and Perry slugged his fifth homerun of the season in the seventh.
Jordyn Finney came in to score in the eighth.
Cole Thune (1-0) made the most of his first start of the season on the mound, allowing a hit and two walks over five innings.
The Series
Stesiak hit .500 (7-for-14) with five runs scored in the four-game series against Trine. All seven hits went for extra bases (five doubles, a triple and homerun) for a 1.214 slugging percentage. He also drew three walks for a .588 on base percentage.
Charron hit .429 (6-for-14) with four doubles, three RBI, and two runs scored in the series.
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.
