LIVONIA, Mich. – Whether it be a hit or a homerun, softball players always remember their first milestone play.
And Albion first baseman Megan LaCavera will always remember her first collegiate homerun. The junior from Armada, Mich., who was forced to watch from the dugout the last two seasons while overcoming a battery of knee injuries, cranked a grand slam as the Britons rallied for an 8-6 victory over Lourdes University in the first game of a non-league doubleheader played at Madonna University.
The Britons were forced to settle for a split of the day's action, losing the nightcap 11-0 in five innings.
Albion trailed the first game 6-1 after three innings.
Alice Garvin drew a walk and Delaney Probst slugged a double to ignite the Britons' fourth inning rally.
It looked as if Lourdes would escape without giving up any runs as the next Albion batter popped up to the shortstop and Elena Luce hit a groundball to the third baseman. The third baseman dropped the ball while transferring the ball to her hand to make the throw to first base.
Julia Anderson singled to drive in a run and Monica Brugnoni walked as another run crossed the plate. LaCavera followed with her homerun over the center field fence as Albion seized a 7-6 lead.
Brugnoni kept Lourdes from scoring despite traffic on the base path.
The Gray Wolves loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, but Briton first-year catcher Kaitlyn Hotchkin alertly grabbed a groundball and stepped on home plate to get the force out and Brugnoni got the next batter to strikeout.
Lourdes batters drew a pair of one-out walks in the sixth, but shortstop Elena Luce made a diving stop on a groundball to force the runner trying to advance to second base and Brugnoni induced the next batter to send a fly ball to right field.
Brugnoni picked up her second RBI of the game in the seventh with a single that brought Luce in to score.
Brugnoni (3-3) allowed 10 hits and seven walks. She struck out six.
Luce and Probst collected Albion's hits in game two.
Albion, 4-8 overall, returns to Madonna at 3:30 Tuesday for a non-league doubleheader.
