Cook’s stellar pitching leads softball team to sweep against Defiance

OLIVET, Mich. – Senior Rachel Cook (Traverse City/Central) threw two complete game shutouts to lead the Olivet College softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Defiance (Ohio) College, 8-0 and 3-0, this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet.

"We needed some wins," said Olivet Head Coach James Farnum. "We found a way to make sure we ended up on the right side of the scoreboard today. It helped with Rachel getting two shutout victories. She has been pitching great all year and we gave her the support she needed today."

In the first game, the Comets got off to a fast start as they sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the first inning. Junior Alison Iuelle (Kentwood/Kelloggsville) walked on four straight pitches to lead off the inning. She went to second on a single from sophomore Alyssa Nielsen (Greenville). Iuelle stole third base and then scored when Nielsen was safe on a fielder's choice off the bat of junior Ciara Santos (Lansing/Everett).

Senior Christine Daub (Hudson) hit a single up the middle, scoring Nielsen and allowing Santos to go to third base. Daub went to second base on the throw home. Sophomore Lauren Lenard (Dimondale/Lansing Catholic) then laced a double into the right-centerfield gap to plate Daub and Santos.

A single from junior Marlene Packer (Grand Rapids/Creston) put runners on the corners. Sophomore Terri Hurosky (Nashville/Maple Valley) reached on an error but Lenard scored on the played. After a single by junior Lindsey Maas (Pinckney) loaded the bases and a fielder's choice out at home, Nielsen had a single to score Hurosky. Maas then scored when the centerfielder's throw was wild.

Olivet capped its scoring by manufacturing a run without a hit in the second inning. Daub was hit by a pitch, went to second on a sacrifice bunt from Lenard, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout by Packer.

The Comets finished the game with seven hits. Nielsen led the way with two hits, while five others each had one. Daub scored twice, and six others scored one run apiece. Iuelle reached base safely in all three plate appearances. In the circle, Cook faced only four batters more than the minimum, allowing only two hits.

In the nightcap, Olivet scored the only runs it would need in the second inning. All three runs crossed the plate after two outs were recorded. With Hurosky on second and senior Brooke Coshow (Niles/Brandywine) on first, Maas hit the first pitch to her deep over the centerfielder's head to score both runners. Iuelle also lined the first pitch into the left-centerfield gap to score Maas.

The Comets had only three hits – the doubles by Iuelle and Maas, and a single by Hurosky. In the circle, Cook was brilliant as only three runners got in scoring position in the entire game. She gave up five hits, struck out two and walked one.

Olivet opens Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play tomorrow with a doubleheader at Kalamazoo College at 3:30 p.m. The doubleheader will be played at Versluis Dickinson Park in Kalamazoo.