WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Albion College produced more hits than its opponent in both games Sunday, but the Britons left too many runners on base in losses to Defiance College, 8-5, and the College of Mount Saint Joseph, 3-2.
Albion led Defiance 4-2 after scoring three times in the third and adding a run in the fourth. The Britons could have padded the lead, but they stranded runners on second and third in the fifth. Defiance rallied with a six-run sixth.
Albion collected 12 hits against the Yellow Jackets. Monica Brugnoni had three hits and two runs batted in. Kaitlyn Hotchkin, Julia Anderson, and Elena Luce all finished with two hits. Ashley Butler produced a RBI hit and Megan LaCavera drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
"We had the momentum," Albion Head Coach Christina Finch said. "We left too many on base, including leaving the bases loaded twice."
Butler, a first-year pitcher, deserved a better fate after she did not allow an earned run against Mount Saint Joseph. She scattered three hits while striking out three.
Albion took the early lead with a run in the first. Mount Saint Joseph countered by scoring twice in the second. Brugnoni added two more hits and a RBI to finish the day with five hits and three RBI. Delaney Probst, Alive Garvin, and Olivia Imbier each had hits.
"It was a tight game," Finch said. "Ashley pitched a fantastic game. We did a lot of things well. They made good plays on balls we hit hard."
Albion has Monday afternoon games against Muskingum (Ohio) University and Hiram (Ohio) College at the DiamondPlex in Winter Haven.