ALBION, Mich. – Albion College continues to inch closer to clinching a berth in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Baseball Tournament.

The Britons took another step at Champions Stadium on Thursday, splitting a doubleheader with Hope College.

Game One: Albion 7, Hope 5

Albion scored four times in the sixth to turn a 5-3 deficit into the final margin. Andrew Arszulowicz doubled to drive in two runs and Matt Bur followed with a single scoring the winning runs.

Sean Haddlesey led the Britons with three hits, including a double, and he scored three times. Arszulowicz and Bur collected two hits apiece.

Mitch Shedlowsky (6-2) started on the mound, allowing five runs on nine hits and four walks over six innings. Kellan Huang allowed a leadoff single in the seventh, but Hope was unable to advance the runner to second base.

Game Two: Hope 8, Albion 6

Hope tacked on three insurance runs in the ninth to hang on for the victory.

Albion scored twice in the second – Joe Turnbull slugged a RBI triple and scored on Riley Stesiak's single – to trail 3-2.

Albion trailed 8-3 going to bat in the bottom of the ninth, but Drew Olszewski walked, Huang hit a double, Justin Charron hit a RBI single and Arszulowicz walked to make things interesting. Huang scored on a wild pitch and Dylan Perry lifted a sacrifice fly before Hope reliever CJ Otteman extinguished the fire to chalk up his fifth save of the season.

Olszewski went 3-for-4 with a walk to lead the Britons at the plate.

On Deck

Albion (18-15 overall, 13-9 MIAA) and Hope are scheduled to complete the series with Friday games at Boeve Stadium.

Twitter: @BritonsBaseball

Joe and Julie Serra have given a $5 million leadership gift to launch a fundraising initiative to make two dreams a reality at Albion College. The first is a newly expanded fitness and student activity facility at the site of the current Dow Recreation and Wellness Center. The second is a new or renovated competition facility for the volleyball, men's basketball and women's basketball that currently call Kresge Gymnasium home.

The College is continuing to raise funds in support of both projects. To learn more, call 517/629-0446 or email advancement@albion.edu.