Albion gains improbable split
Hiram 2, Albion 0
Albion 21, Muskingum 13

» STATISTICS FROM HIRAM GAME
» STATISTICS FROM MUSKINGUM GAME

CAPE CORAL, Fla. - The Albion College baseball team split a pair of games in improbable fashion at the Cape Coral Sports Complex Thursday, March 11. Albion collected just one hit in a 2-0 loss to Hiram (Ohio) College. Albion scored 19 runs in the final two at-bats to erase an 11-run deficit and post a 21-13 victory over Muskingum (Ohio) College.

The split ensures Albion will finish its spring break trip with no worse than a .500 record. The Britons, who are 5-4, close the Florida trip Friday, March 12 with a 9 a.m. game against Wilmington (Ohio) College at Terry Park in Fort Myers.

In the morning game against Hiram, the only runs were scored in the second inning. With two out, catcher Mike Strozewski was hit by a pitch and designated hitter Louis Ule followed by depositing a pitch over the left field fence for a two-run homer.

Albion had only two baserunners in the game. Senior centerfielder Bret Gove (Clarkston/Clarkston) singled in the fourth inning and senior designated hitter Matt Shook (Coldwater/Coldwater) drew a walk to start the fifth inning.

Senior pitcher Steve Gordon (Plymouth/Salem) pitched well despite being saddled with the loss. Gordon worked all six innings allowing two runs on three hits and two walks. He struck out seven Hiram batters.

Albion trailed Muskingum 13-2 when it went to bat in the bottom of the fifth inning. Albion struck for five runs in the fifth and 14 runs in the sixth. Sophomore first baseman Mike Pisha (Wixom/Walled Lake Western) delivered the big blow with a three-run shot over the fence in right-center field.

Also hitting for the Britons, senior third baseman Mike Cieszkowski (Howell/Hartland) collected three hits and drove in five runs. Senior first baseman Mark Flancbaum (Orchard Lake/West Bloomfield), junior catcher Matt Cook (Lansing/Grand Ledge), junior rightfielder Chris Trott (Plymouth/Salem), Pisha, first-year designated hitter Tim Gough (Jackson/Jackson), and Gove ripped two hits apiece against the Muskies.

On the mound, first-year pitcher Christian Blough (Coloma/Lake Michigan Catholic) worked 1-1/3 scoreless innings to earn the first victory of his collegiate career.

Updated March 11, 2004 by Albion College Sports Information