Baseball stretches MIAA win streak to 13 games with doubleheader sweep of Alma

The Olivet College baseball team stretched its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) winning streak to 13 games with a doubleheader sweep of Alma College today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The Comets won the first game, 2-1, and scored two runs in the seventh inning to win the nightcap, 3-2.

In the first game, the Scots (8-13, 3-9 MIAA) scored a run in the first inning. Olivet (17-8, 13-1 MIAA) got the run back in the fourth inning. Junior Erik McCloud (Holly) singled into rightfield. Senior Scott Purdy (Traverse City/West) followed with a single in the right-centerfield gap, which allowed McCloud to advance to second base. The Scot defense turned a double play off a batted ball by junior Matt Smoker (Bronson), but McCloud scored from third.

The Comets scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the fifth inning. Freshman Jacob Blamer (Newaygo) hit a ground-rule double down into the rightfield corner. After senior Ryan Hodges (Swartz Creek) was hit by a pitch, sophomore Ben Kosmalski (Canton/Plymouth) sent the very next pitch into centerfield, scoring Blamer.

Offensively, Olivet had seven hits, including two by Smoker. Five others each had a hit, and the extra base hits were Blamer's double, and a double by freshman Tyler Olinske (Negaunee). On the mound, junior Tyler Kelly (Marshall) threw a complete game, six-hitter. He allowed one earned run, walked one and struck out one.

In the second game, the Comets jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a run in the first inning. Kosmalski hit a single, went to second on a wild pitch and came around to score on a triple by McCloud. Alma tied the game with a run in the fourth and went took a 2-1 lead with a run in the sixth inning.

Olivet scored the winning runs in its final at-bat. Hodges lifted a fly ball behind second base, and both the second baseman and shortstop watched the ball between them. Kosmalski singled through the left-side of the infield. After a wild pitch moved the runners up a base, sophomore Jimmy Keenan (Charlotte) was inserted into the game as a pinch runner at second and McCloud was intentionally walked to load the bases. Purdy hit a ball through the right-side of the infield, scoring Hodges and moving Keenan to third. Senior Brandon Goodman (Portage/Portage Central) hit a 2-2 pitch to left for a sacrifice fly, which scored Keenan with the winning run.

For the game, Purdy reached base safely in his four plate appearances – twice on walks and twice on base hits. Hodges and Kosmalski also had two hits apiece. On the mound, sophomore lefthander Sean Alexander (Fenton) went the distance and allowed the two runs on four hits. He struck out a career-high 12 batters and walked only one.

Olivet and Alma will complete the four-game series Sunday with a doubleheader at Klenk Park. First pitch for game one is slated for 1 p.m.