Baseball team splits home doubleheader with Calvin

The Olivet College baseball team split a doubleheader with Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Calvin College this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex. Behind a complete game pitching performance by junior Tyler Kelly (Marshall), the Comets won the first game, 6-1. In the nightcap, Olivet fell behind 6-0, rallied to tie the game at 6-6, but fell 8-6 in eight innings.

In the first game, the Comets scored a run in the first inning when senior Scott Purdy (Traverse City/West) drove in senior Ryan Hodges (Swartz Creek), who doubled to lead off the game. Olivet added two more runs on a RBI-triple by senior Brandon Goodman (Portage/Central) and fielder's choice-RBI by junior Matt Smoker (Bronson). The Comets scored three insurance runs in the sixth inning. Freshman Jacob Blamer (Newaygo) scored on a single by Goodman. Goodman and Hodges scored on a two-run double by Purdy. The Knights pushed across their only run in the top half of the seventh inning.

Goodman finished the game with three hits – a single, double and triple. He scored two runs and drove in a pair of runs. Hodges scored three times, while Purdy collected three RBI. Kelly was brilliant on the mound, scattering five hits and striking out five. He got out of a bases loaded jam in the second inning with a called strikeout. The Comet defense also turned two double plays.

In the nightcap, Calvin scored one run in the first, three runs in the second, one run in the third and one run in the fourth to take a 6-0 lead. The bottom three batters in Olivet's lineup each scored a run in the fifth inning. Senior Rob Swanson (Marshall) got the rally started with a single and went to second on a single by junior Brad Sullens (Belleville). Sophomore Phil Sullens (Belleville) brought them with a double to the right-centerfield gap. A wild pitch moved Phil Sullens to third, and sophomore Ben Kosmalski (Canton/Plymouth) brought him home with a single.

The Comets got two more runs back in the sixth inning. Junior Erik McCloud (Holly) ripped a single and advanced to second on Swanson's single down the leftfield line. McCloud stole third base and scored on a single by Brad Sullens. Phil Sullens hit a single through the left-side of the infield to load the bases. Hodges lifted a sacrifice fly to left, and Swanson just got under the tag at the plate.

Another double play ended the Knights' seventh inning. To lead off the Comets' seventh, Goodman singled. Purdy then ripped a double to the fence in right-centerfield and Goodman ran all the way around to score the game-tying run. A fly ball out moved Purdy to third with one out, but Olivet could not get the clutch hit, sending the game into extra innings. The first two batters walked to start the eighth inning for Calvin, and both eventually came around to score. The Comets were retired 1-2-3 in the eighth.

For the game, Swanson had three singles. Phil Sullens had one double and two singles. Brad Sullens finished with two hits. On the mound, sophomore lefthander Sean Alexander (Fenton) started and went two innings, allowing four runs (two earned) off three hits. Freshman Nick McCleary (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) threw four and one-third innings of relief, giving up two earned runs off seven hits. Sophomore Braydon LaFramboise (Flushing/Mt. Morris) suffered the loss, throwing an inning and surrendering two runs off just one hit.

Olivet and Calvin will complete the four-game series tomorrow with a twinbill at Calvin Field in Grand Rapids. First pitch for game one is 1 p.m.