ALMA, Mich. — The Albion softball team dropped both games of an MIAA doubleheader at Alma, falling 3–2 in the opener and 1–0 in the nightcap on Saturday at Scots Park.
Game 1
The Britons jumped out in front and held a 2–0 lead through three and a half innings before Alma rallied late to take the opener, 3–2.
Albion broke through in the third, as Elaina Braunscheidel singled and eventually came around to score when Kaitlyn Ruselink reached on a fielder's choice and advanced on a throwing error by the pitcher. The Britons added to their advantage in the fourth, with Cameron McDonald drawing a walk and later scoring on an RBI double to right-center by Kiersten Wilkin.
Alma responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game and then pushed across the go-ahead run in the fifth on a double to left-center. Albion threatened but could not plate the tying run over the final two frames.
The Britons tallied six hits in game one, led by Braunscheidel (2-for-3, run), while Wilkin recorded the RBI double, and Emma Schramm, Ruselink, and Jessie Anstandig each added a hit. In the circle, Jaden Henderson worked 3.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with four walks, before Alaina Brown tossed 2.2 innings of relief, giving up just one run on three hits with one strikeout.
Game 2
Game two turned into a pitcher's duel, with Lilly Zaskowski turning in a strong complete-game effort despite the 1–0 loss.
Zaskowski kept Alma off the board until the fifth inning, when a sacrifice fly to center field brought in the game's only run. She finished with 7.0 innings pitched, allowing just one run on seven hits, with no walks and one wild pitch.
Offensively, Albion collected five hits, but could not deliver the timely knock. Zaskowski helped her own cause with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, while Schramm, Allie Trantham, and McDonald each added a hit. Schramm also swiped a stolen base as the Britons put runners on but were unable to push any across.
Up Next
The Britons return to MIAA play next week, continuing their conference schedule away from home.
