Junior Alex Cull had three hits, scored three runs and knocked in two more, sophomore Justin Charron hit a three-run homer and senior pitcher Scott Grant threw six strong innings as Albion continued its early season success with a 13-3 victory over Rose-Hulman Thursday in Auburndale, Fla.
The Britons have started the season 4-0, their best since they opened the 2002 season with a 9-0 mark under former coach Jim Conway.
Carden was an assistant on that team and remembers.
"We started that season 9-0 and I think we won two games the rest of the season," he cracked. "We don't want that."
Actually, they won seven more games but his point was well taken -- a good start doesn't necessarily equal a great season.
Still, the Britons have started the season hot, hitting .367 as a team and scoring runs by the boatload, scoring 48 runs in their first four games. But instead of rallying late as they did the first three games, they jumped on Rose-Hulman early, claimed a 9-2 lead hrough four innings and relied on Grant, who stuck out seven, allowed five hits and one earned run.
"We've been really happy with what we've done here," Carden said. "Our pitching staff has been a little overlooked. I think we were hoping for a little stronger performance but they're throwing strikes, not giving up big innings and they're limiting damage. The pitching and defense have been solid and done what they needed to do. And we knew our offense had this ability to put up runs. We want to score in bunches. We want to put big innngs together."
Senior Jordyn Finney continued his hot start with two hits, two runs scored and two RBI; junior Kellen Huang added two hits, three runs scored and two RBI; and freshman Mark Lauro chipped in three hits and three RBI.
Albion looks to keep its winning streak going Ffiday when it plays a split doubleader against Clark University (Mass.) and Massachusetts--Dartmouth.