Baseball team opens season with 6-5 loss to St. Lawrence (N.Y.) at Gene Cusic Classic

The Olivet College baseball team opened its season with a 6-5 loss to St. Lawrence (N.Y.) University today at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.

After St. Lawrence scored a run in the first inning, Olivet took a 2-1 lead with a pair of runs in the third. Senior Erik McCloud (Holly) singled, stole second base and came around to score on a RBI-double by freshman Randy Young (Wixom/Walled Lake Western). Young then crossed the plate on a RBI-single by junior Jimmy Keenan (Charlotte).

The Saints tied the game at 2-2 with a run in the fourth inning. The Comets regained the lead at 3-2 in the sixth when sophomore Jacob Blamer (Newaygo) lifted a sacrifice fly, scoring junior Beau Felix (Hartland).

Olivet added to its lead with a two-run eighth inning. Keenan led off the frame with a triple. Felix ripped a RBI-single to score him. Senior Brad Sullens (Belleville) followed with a single to advance Felix to second base. On a double steal, the catcher threw the ball into the outfield, which scored Felix.

St. Lawrence pushed across four runs in the bottom half of the eighth inning. The Comets did not go down quietly in the ninth. They had a runner thrown out at the plate and left two runners stranded on the base paths.

Olivet finished the game with 10 base hits. Felix, Keenan, Sullens and junior Braydon LaFramboise (Flushing/Mt. Morris) each had two hits. Junior Brad Beisiegel (Royal Oak) started on the mound and went six innings. He gave up two runs (one earned) off five hits, while striking out seven and not walking a batter. LaFramboise was saddled with the loss in relief. He went one and one-third innings, allowing four runs off five hits. McCloud got the final two outs.

The Comets will play Elms (Mass.) College tomorrow at 6 p.m. The game is at Terry Park.