Britons take series opener from Adrian

» GAME STATISTICS

ALBION, Mich. - The Albion College baseball team took the opening game of a three-game Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association series from Adrian College with a 5-1 victory at Frank Joranko Field Friday afternoon.

Adrian entered the game with a league-best .352 team batting average through its first nine MIAA contests, but Albion junior pitcher Jonathan Hastings (Fort Gratiot/Port Huron Northern) scattered five hits and three walks to gain his fifth victory of the season on the mound.

The Briton offense gave Hastings all the run support he would need by plating a pair of runs in the second inning. Senior second baseman Mark Flancbaum (Orchard Lake/West Bloomfield) smacked a leadoff single through the left side of the infield, and he scored on a groundout by senior third baseman Mike Cieszkowski (Howell/Hartland). A single by senior designated hitter Matt Shook (Coldwater/Coldwater) drove in junior rightfielder Chris Trott (Plymouth/Salem).

Albion extended its lead to 5-0 with a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth.

Sophomore catcher Pete Grostic (Muskegon/Muskegon) reached base on an error to open the fourth inning. Grostic advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior leftfielder David Seales (Alma/Alma) and scored when sophomore centerfielder Richard Engelmann (Grand Blanc/Flint Powers) laced a single to left field.

Cieszkowski opened the fifth inning with an infield single. He stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Cieszkowski scored on an infield hit by Grostic. Grostic scored when Engelmann doubled to right field.

Engelmann led the Briton offense with three hits. Seales and junior shortstop Brian Sayers (Chelsea/Chelsea) collected two hits apiece.

Adrian drew a pair of walks to score its run in the top of the sixth inning.

Adrian pitcher Jeff Nokovich threw 125 pitches in eight innings of work. He struck out five Albion batters and walked one.

The teams will return to Frank Joranko Field Saturday to complete the series with a pair of seven-inning games. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m. Albion College sports information director Bobby Lee will provide the internet play-by-play at http://media.albion.edu/sports.

Updated April 16, 2004 by Albion College Sports Information