Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 ALBION, Mich. – Albion College reserved its place in next week's inaugural Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Baseball Tournament with 4-0 and 6-5 wins over Alma College at Frank Joranko Field Thursday afternoon.
At 14-12 in the league with a Friday doubleheader at Alma remaining, Albion can do no worse than fourth place in the league standings. The MIAA Tournament is scheduled for May 9-11.
Mike Schypinski (Sterling Heights/De La Salle) threw his second shutout in a row in game one. He retired the first six batters before Ian Rhynard opened the third inning with a bunt single. Schypinski preserved the shutout by wiggling out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh by getting the final batter to strikeout. His final line was four hits, two walks, and eight strikeouts.
B.J. Konkle (Marshall) gave Schypinski all the run support he'd need with a RBI groundout in the second inning. Eric Shimmel (Warren/Cousino) delivered a two-run single as part of Albion's three-run third inning.
Alma led game two, 4-0, after two innings, but Albion scored a run in the third and four in the fourth to pull ahead, 5-4. Konkle drew a bases loaded walk, Shimmel scored on a wild pitch and Matt Ankenbrandt (Grandville) produced a two-run single in the fourth.
Alma scored a run in the seventh to tie the score at 5-5. Albion responded as Chuck DeClarke (Holt/Lansing Catholic Central) hit a single to leadoff Albion's half of the seventh. Walks to Chad Gromek (Lansing/Lansing Catholic Central) and Shimmel loaded the bases, setting the stage for Davin Montgomery to lace a walk-off single to center field.
Reliever Doug Counterman (Burlington/Union City) got credit for the win.