Britons sweep doubleheader from Hope
to forge tie atop MIAA standings

» GAME ONE STATISTICS
» GAME TWO STATISTICS

ALBION, Mich. - The Albion College baseball team swept a doubleheader from Hope College by scores of 11-1 and 2-1 at Frank Joranko Field Saturday to forge a tie with Adrian College atop the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association standings.

Albion and Adrian boast identical 9-3 league records with six MIAA contests remaining for both teams. Albion will play its final two league series on the road, visiting Olivet College April 30 and May 1, and traveling to Calvin College May 6-7.

In game one, the Briton offense erupted for 11 runs on 17 hits. Albion scored in every inning except the sixth. Juniors Brian Sayers (Chelsea/Chelsea) and David Seales (Alma/Alma) and sophomore Richard Engelmann (Grand Blanc/Flint Powers) collected three hits apiece. Sayers, Seales, and seniors Mark Flancbaum (Orchard Lake/West Bloomfield) and Mike Cieszkowski (Howell/Hartland) drove in two runs each.

The run support was more than enough for senior pitcher Steve Gordon (Plymouth/Salem). He improved to 4-2 on the year by going the distance. He allowed an unearned run on five hits and a walk.

All of the scoring in the nightcap occurred in the first inning. Senior Matt Shook (Coldwater/Coldwater) and sophomore Mike Pisha (Wixom/Walled Lake Western) delivered RBI singles for the Britons.

Seales, who moved to the mound for game two, made the first inning runs stand up. He scattered six hits and a walk. Seales did receive help from the defense, as Albion turned double plays after Hope got its leadoff batters on base in the third and fifth innings. Seales' season record is now 4-4.

Updated April 24, 2004 by Albion College Sports Information