Baseball team extends win streak to eight games with doubleheader sweep at Trine, 7-6 and 9-8

The Olivet College baseball team extended its winning streak to eight games with a doubleheader sweep today at Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Trine (Ind.) University. The Comets won by scores of 7-6 and 9-8.

In the first game, Olivet scored five runs (four unearned) in the first inning. Driving in runs during the inning were senior Brandon Goodman (Portage/Portage Central), sophomore Jimmy Keenan (Charlotte) and junior Brad Sullens (Belleville). Trine came back with two runs in both the first and second innings to cut its deficit to one run. The Comets pushed their lead back to three runs, 7-4, on a two-run home run by junior Erik McCloud (Holly). The Thunder scored twice in the seventh inning before Olivet got out of the jam with a double play to end the game.

For the game, senior Ryan Hodges (Swartz Creek) went 2-for-3 and scored two runs. Five other players each scored a run, while four of those five also had a hit. On the mound, McCloud was the winning pitcher, and sophomore Braydon LaFramboise (Flushing/Mt. Morris) earned the save.

In the nightcap, the Comets scored a run in the second inning on a RBI-double by Sullens. They added another run in the third inning on a RBI-single by senior Scott Purdy (Traverse City/West). Olivet stretched its lead to 8-0 with a six-run fourth inning. Highlighting the inning were RBI hits by senior Rob Swanson (Marshall), Purdy and junior Matt Smoker (Bronson). Sullens drove in a run on a sacrifice fly.

Trine battled back to tie the game at 8-8 with one run in the fourth, two in the fifth and five in the sixth. Olivet scored the game-winning run in the top half of the seventh inning. Swanson singled, moved to second on sacrifice by sophomore Phil Sullens (Belleville) and advanced to third on a single by Hodges. McCloud then delivered with a hit, scoring Swanson.

Offensively, the Comets recorded 13 hits, as Smoker led the way with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate. He also drove in two runs. Goodman, McCloud, Purdy and Swanson each had two hits. Purdy, Smoker and Swanson had two RBI apiece, while Goodman and Swanson scored two times apiece.

Sophomore Brad Beisiegel (Royal Oak) started the mound and went five and one-third innings. He gave up eight earned runs on 10 hits, while striking out four. In relief, junior Josh Norlock (Warren/Centerline) was the winning pitcher. LaFramboise pitched the seventh inning for the save.

Olivet will play a non-league nine-inning game Wednesday at Aquinas College. First pitch is 2 p.m. The Comets' next four-game league series is next Friday and Saturday, April 10-11, against Kalamazoo College. Friday's doubleheader will be played in Olivet, beginning at 2 p.m., and Saturday's games will be played in Kalamazoo, starting at 1 p.m.