NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – Albion College pitchers Erin Giannotta (St. Clair Shores/Regina) and Kaitlin Downey (Macomb/Dakota) deserved better fates as the Britons made their northern debut Wednesday with a non-league doubleheader at Manchester College. Giannotta yielded a run on four hits and two walks in game one and Downey scattered two runs on four hits and three walks, but neither pitcher received much offensive support as the Britons suffered 1-0 and 2-1 setbacks.

Albion had scoring chances in both contests. The Britons had two runners picked off third base and they had runners reach second base in five of the seven innings in game one. Kara Wandrie (Clarkston) produced two of Albion's five hits and Jessica Koehler (Ida/Marine City) reached on an error by the Manchester shortstop in the first and slugged a one-out double in the third.

Manchester plate game one's only run in the sixth as pinch-hitter Chelsea Purcell scorched a double to start the inning. Giannotta kept the next two batters from hitting the ball out of the infield, but Amy Hommema delivered a single to center to push the game-winning run across the plate.

Albion stranded runners on first and second in the first and third innings of game two. Downey issued a walk to Manchester's leadoff batter in the third, but a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout gave her an opportunity to extinguish the scoring threat. Kylie Planck delivered a double to plate the run.

Albion went down in order in the fourth and fifth innings, and Manchester pitcher Ashlea Nash had retired eight in a row until Stefana Russo (Sterling Heights/Stevenson) drew a one-out walk in the sixth. Samantha Kolling's (Moncolva, Ohio/Anthony Wayne) bunt advanced Russo to second and Russo scored when Alyssa Castillo (Hamilton) singled to center field.

The score did not remain tied for long as Planck singled and stole second to ignite Manchester's half of the sixth. After a groundout to shortstop, Kayla Yates singled to deliver the game-winning run.

Albion is scheduled to make its home debut at 1 p.m. Sunday when it challenges Defiance (Ohio) College for a non-league doubleheader at Dempsey Field.