ALBION, Mich. – If Albion College fails to qualify for the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Baseball Tournament it may kick itself for losing the second game of its doubleheader with Olivet College, 8-7, at Frank Joranko Field.

Albion took three of four in the weekend series as Brett Timmer (Jenison) threw a three-hit shutout and Eric Shimmel (Warren/Cousino) and Chuck DeClarke (Holt/Lansing Catholic Central) produced RBI in a 2-0 win in the first game Sunday. Albion won the Saturday games at Olivet by scores of 8-2 and 3-2.

B.J. Konkle (Marshall) staked Albion to a 2-0 lead in game two when he sent a first-inning double to score Ben Gould (Alpena) and DeClarke. The lead grew to 3-0 when DeClarke drew a bases loaded walk in the second.
The lead evaporated in the third as four consecutive Olivet hitters reached base in a four-run uprising. Albion would tie the game in its half of the inning as John Gignac (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Central) laced a one-out single and scored on a two-out hit by Dan Mills (Northville).

Olivet seized an 8-4 lead by plating two runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Comet closer Justin Pitt retired the first two batters in the Albion half of the seventh, but the next six Britons collected hits as they scored three runs. The tying run was thrown out at home plate to end the game.

Timmer gained his first career shutout by wiggling out of jams. He walked the first two batters of the game, but got the fourth and fifth batters in the Olivet order to strikeout. He hit a batter and yielded a single to the first two batters in the second, but the defense backed Timmer with a double play.

Timmer worked around an error that allowed Olivet's leadoff batter to reach base in the seventh. The next batter singled and Olivet used a sacrifice hit to place the tying run in scoring position with one out. Timmer got a strikeout for the second out and a lineout to right to end the game.

Timmer issued three walks and struck out four.

Albion hit .363 with nine doubles in the four game series. Mills went 6-for-9 with two doubles and five RBI. Mills also drew two walks and was hit by a pitch to achieve a .750 on-base percentage. Davin Montgomery (Novi/Northville) and Gignac produced five hits apiece.

Albion, second in the MIAA with a 9-7 record against league rivals, holds a one-game lead over three teams tied for third. The top four teams advance to the MIAA Tournament in May. Albion will battle one of the third place teams, Hope College, Friday and Saturday. The series begins at 2 p.m. Friday with a pair of seven-inning games in Boeve Stadium in Holland.