KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Albion College softball team badly needed a victory Thursday. Erin Giannotta, a senior from Saint Clair Shores, scattered three hits and two walks over 110 pitches and three batters drove in runs as the Britons delivered a 3-1 victory over Methodist (N.C.) University at Oren Brown Park.

Albion had to settle for a split decision on the day, however, as it stranded nine base runners and committed four errors in the field in a 7-2 setback to Waynesburg (Pa.) University.

The split leaves Albion with a 2-8 record as it enters its final day of competition in Florida. The Britons will challenge Beloit (Wis.) College and Bluffton (Ohio) University Friday afternoon at the Fortune Road Athletic Complex. Bobby Lee, Albion's director of news & sports information, will provide the play-by-play broadcast of both games at http://media.albion.edu/sports with programming beginning shortly before the 1 p.m. first pitch.

Giannotta didn't let Methodist advance a runner past first base through the first three innings. Megan Lee, the No. 2 batter in the Monarchs' lineup, singled in the first inning but she was erased when Claire Cannon, the senior catcher from Clinton Township, threw her out trying to steal. Giannotta retired the Monarchs in order in the second and third innings.

Consecutive singles by Kara Wandrie, the senior center fielder from Clarkston, Samantha Kolling, the senior third baseman from Monclova, Ohio, and Alyssa Castillo, the senior shortstop from Hamilton, in the first inning produced Albion's first run. Albion tacked on another run in the third as Castillo reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a single by Stefana Russo. Cannon drove in an insurance run in the sixth as her groundout allowed Kaitlyn Downey, the sophomore first baseman from Macomb, to score.

Downey moved to pitcher for the game against Waynesburg, and she got off to a good start by retiring the Yellow Jackets in order in the first. A fielding error and a pair of walks helped Waynesburg plate four runs in the second. Downey finished the game allowing just one earned run.

Albion didn't take advantage of its scoring chances. The Britons stranded two runners in the first, third, and fourth. Castillo came through with a two-run single in the seventh.