ALBION, MI - The Trine University baseball team lost both games of a doubleheader against Albion College, 7-0 and 8-5, to start a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association four-game series.

In game one, Albion (10-16, 6-10 MIAA) got on the scoreboard early with two runs in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a double and then a wild pitch later in the inning with a runner on third base. The Britons then broke the game open with a five-run third inning on a series of run scoring singles that made it a 7-0 ball game.

Trine (5-18, 5-9 MIAA) mustered just three hits in the game and the runs scored by Albion turned out to be the only points of the game as the Britons claimed the 7-0 shutout.

Junior Gary DeMartino recorded two of Trine's three hits and finished two-of-three overall. Fellow junior Brenden Warner had the Thunder's other hit and ended the game one-of-two officially.

Freshman Josh Hoogewerf started on the hill for the Thunder and pitched two and two-thirds innings allowing seven runs on 11 hits to go along with three strikeouts. Junior Austin Nuessgen pitched the final three-and-a-third innings and gave up no runs and just two hits in addition to striking out four batters.

Trine started game two with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning that were the result of a RBI-base hit by Warner with runners on first and second base. The hit was then followed by a run-scoring fielder's choice by senior Shayne Devine which gave the Thunder an early 2-0 advantage.

Albion answered in the bottom of the second inning with two runs of its own thanks to a throwing error on a stolen base attempt and then a single that found space in left field to even the game at 2-2.

Trine regained the lead in the fourth inning by plating two more runs on a groundout by senior Jake Conley with runners on second and third, which was then followed by a RBI-single up the middle by freshman Dalton Nikirk during the very next at-bat to put the Thunder ahead, 4-2.

The lead remained two runs for the visitors until the Britons put up back-to-back innings of three runs in the fifth and sixth frames to lead, 8-4, going into the seventh inning.

After getting its first two batters on base to start the top of the seventh, Trine hit into consecutive outs, but then scored a run a single to right center field by sophomore Matt Weis to inch the Thunder closer by a margin of 8-5. But that was as close as Trine got as the game ended on an ensuing strikeout, sealing the three-run victory for Albion, 8-5.

Both teams recorded nine hits in the night cap with Trine being led by Nikirk who had three hits in four plate appearances in addition to scoring a run and a RBI. Sophomore Adam Steffanelli also finished with a multi-hit game going two-of-four and scored a run.

At pitcher, senior Conner Dove got the start, but suffered the loss after going four-and-a-third innings and gave up five runs, three earned, on six hits and had one strikeout. Senior Kyle Robinson came on in relief and pitched a third of an inning, allowing no runs or hits. Senior Drew Cebulak pitched the remainder of the game and allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits and struck out to batters in an inning-and-a-third.