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Calvin
tops Albion in series opener,
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| Junior outfielder David Seales provided the hardest hit ball off Calvin pitcher Jim Deters when he lined a shot to center field that resulted in a three-base error in the ninth inning. First-year athlete Tim Gough scored on the play. |
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The drama in the race for the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association baseball title was extended another day as Calvin College handed league-leading Albion College a 7-3 defeat in the opening game of a three-game series.
Thanks to Adrian College's doubleheader sweep at Alma, Albion must win one of Friday's doubleheader games with the Knights to gain a share of the final league crown. The Britons must sweep the Knights to win the title outright and gain the MIAA's automatic bid to the NCAA III Tournament. In the case of a tie for the title, Adrian would hold the tie-breaker edge over Albion as the Bulldogs took two of three from the Britons in a conference series earlier this spring.
Calvin (15-23 overall, 6-10 MIAA) set the tone for the series opening victory with a three-run homer to straightaway centerfield by junior Andy Bunting in the first inning. The belt by Bunting carried high and far over the 400 foot barrier.
Calvin then added a run in the third on a throwing error and another in the fourth on a clutch two-out RBI single by sophomore Mike Aggen to build a 5-0 lead. With a five-run cushion behind him, Calvin pitcher Jim Deters (5-3) was able to cruise the rest of the way as he struck out nine batters without a walk while scattering nine hits against an Albion lineup that carried an MIAA-leading .323 league batting average heading into the game.
Albion picked up two runs in the sixth on a double by sophomore first baseman Mike Pisha (Wixom/Walled Lake Western) but the Knights answered back with a run in the bottom half as Aggen delivered another RBI single. Calvin would add another insurance marker in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by senior Darrell Heuker.
Albion's final run would come in the top of the ninth when junior David Seales (Alma/Alma) lifted a ball into center field and the play was ruled a three-base error. First-year pinch-hitter Tim Gough (Jackson/Jackson) scored on the play.
Senior second baseman Mark Flancbaum (Orchard Lake/West Bloomfield) and junior right fielder Chris Trott (Plymouth/Salem) collected two hits each for the Britons.
Friday's doubleheader between Calvin and Albion is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m.. Both games will be seven-inning contests and will be aired via RealAudio over the Calvin web site at: www.calvin.edu/sports.
Updated May 06, 2004 by Albion College Sports Information
