ALBION, Mich. – Playing to gain a split of its first Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association doubleheader of the season, Albion College left the bases loaded in the ninth inning to fall in the nightcap to Kalamazoo College, 8-5.

Ryan Ott pitched well in leading Kalamazoo to an 8-1 victory in game one.

Game One

A hit batter, a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt and a walk helped Kalamazoo plate five runs in the first inning. That was enough of a cushion for Ott, who limited Albion to seven hits and two walks in pitching a complete game. Ott's only mistake was allowing a homerun to Jack Wyman to leadoff the fifth inning. Shane Lindemann collected four hits for Albion.

Steven Scott pitched admirably in relief. He did not allow an earned run while recording all 21 outs. He struck out four.

Josh Reuter produced two hits and scored two runs for Kalamazoo.

Game Two

Lindemann hit a RBI single and Justin Dennis lifted a sacrifice fly as Albion cut the deficit to 3-2 in the third. Kalamazoo answered with two runs in the fourth, and it added two more in the sixth and one in the seventh.

Mitch Lasceski and Luke Bottomley drove in runs in the ninth.

Lindemann and Steven Marowski finished with two hits apiece for the Britons.

On Deck

The teams will complete the four-game series with a Saturday doubleheader in Kalamazoo. The first pitch is set for 10:30 a.m.