Albion reels off impressive victories in Indiana

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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Albion College baseball team notched a pair of impressive victories on the first day of the Rose-Hulman (Ind.) Institute of Technology Invitational, knocking the host Engineers from the ranks of the unbeaten, 3-2, and defeating 20th-ranked Wartburg (Iowa) College, 8-6.

The start of the Rose-Hulman game was delayed an hour by rain, and rain continued to fall through the first four innings of the contest. Junior rightfielder Chris Trott (Plymouth/Salem), senior third baseman Mike Cieszkowski (Howell/Hartland), and first-year leftfielder Tim Gough (Jackson/Jackson) each collected two hits against the Engineers.

Albion broke a 2-2 tie by scoring a run in the top of the seventh inning. Trott and Cieszkowski slapped one-out singles, and advanced on a wild pitch to snap Rose-Hulman's 13-game winning streak.

Senior Steve Gordon (Plymouth/Salem) needed 101 pitches to work his second complete game of the season on the mound. He scattered seven hits and a walk.

Albion scored three times in the second inning to jump out to an early lead against Wartburg. The Britons scored four runs in the top of the sixth to seize an 8-2 lead. Wartburg scored a run in the bottom of the sixth and three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but its rally fell short.

At the plate, senior second baseman Mark Flancbaum (Orchard Lake/West Bloomfield), Trott and Cieszkowski collected two hits apiece. Trott and senior centerfielder Bret Gove (Clarkston/Clarkston) each drove in two runs.

On the mound, junior Jonathan Hastings (Fort Gratiot/Port Huron Northern) gained his first victory and worked his first complete game of the season. He allowed four earned runs, eight hits, and four walks. He also struck out three.

Albion finishes round robin play in the Rose-Hulman Invitational Sunday with an 11 a.m. game against Marian (Ind.) College. The championship and consolation games are slated for Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

Updated March 20, 2004 by Albion College Sports Information