Baseball team sweeps doubleheader at Tri-State, 6-4 in 11 innings and 6-2

The Olivet College baseball team swept a doubleheader from Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Tri-State (Ind.) University this afternoon at Janeen Field in Angola, Ind. The Comets won the first game, 6-2 in 11 innings, and scored four runs in the seventh inning to win game two, 6-2.

In the opener, Olivet (11-22, 8-16 MIAA) let three leads slip away as the Thunder (3-32, 1-23 MIAA) rallied each time to tie the game. The Comets led 2-0, 3-2 and 4-3. Tri-State forced extra innings by scoring a run with two outs in the seventh inning.

Olivet took a 6-4 lead with a pair of runs in the 11th inning. Senior Drew Benoit (Climax-Scotts) singled to start the frame. He moved to second as senior Stan Cieslak (Troy/Avondale) reached first base on an error by the Tri-State pitcher. A ground out advanced each of them one base. Junior Nick McIntosh (Petoskey) walked to load the bases. Senior Jonathon Van Son (Macomb/H.W. Notre Dame) singled to score Benoit and move everyone else up one base. A groundout by freshman Dan Simmons (Climax-Scotts) plated Cieslak.

Cieslak finished the game with three hits in five trips to the plate. He also scored three runs. Junior Chris Shelhart (Rolling Meadows, Ill./St. Viator) collected two hits. On the mound, junior Brad Dragicevich (Kalamazoo/Central) pitched the first seven innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on nine hits. In relief, sophomore Adam Bassett (Bellevue) earned the win. He tossed four innings and gave up only two hits, while striking out three and walking nobody.

In the nightcap, the Comets took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Cieslak singled and scored on a double by McIntosh. The Thunder answered with two runs in their half of the third. Olivet knotted the game at 2-2 with a run in the fifth. McIntosh led off the inning with a double down the left field line. A flyout moved him over to third and a single by Simmons scored him. Olivet sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four runs in the seventh.

For the game, the Comets had nine base hits, including two each by McIntosh and Simmons. McIntosh's hits were doubles, and Simmons' hits were singles. On the mound, junior Elliot Wilcox (Mattawan) went the distance to earn his fourth win of the season. He scattered eight hits in seven innings of work.

Olivet will wrap-up its 2006 season next weekend with a four-game series against Hope College. On Friday, May 5, the teams will play a doubleheader at Hope, beginning at 2 p.m., followed by a doubleheader Saturday, May 6, in Olivet at 1 p.m.