Softball team hits four home runs in a doubleheader split against Adrian

The Olivet College softball team split a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader with Adrian College today in Olivet. The Comets (16-8, 2-4 MIAA) won the first game, 9-0, in five innings, and lost the nightcap, 5-3.

In the first game, Olivet scored two runs in the first inning. Freshman Danielle Martin (Lansing/Catholic Central) was hit by a pitch. Freshman Alisha Ridsdale (Laingsburg) stepped to the plate and sent the next pitch over the leftfield fence. The Comets added two more runs in the third on a two-run home run by freshman Heather Jones (Trenton). Olivet closed the scoring by sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring five runs in the fourth inning.

For the game, the Comets collected 10 base hits, including two each by Ridsdale and freshman Heidi Wear (Hastings/Wayland). Seven different players had at least one hit and scored one run. In the circle, senior Erica Anderson (Casnovia/Kent City) earned the win. She pitched four innings and allowed one hit, while striking out six and walking nobody. Freshman Corie Greene (Brown City) pitched the fifth inning, giving up one base hit.

In the nightcap, Adrian (11-13, 2-6 MIAA) built a 5-0 lead through six innings. Olivet's seventh inning rally came up short. Junior Shannon Hall (Taylor/Truman) led off the inning with a home run. Freshman Kacie Rosecrants (Parma/Western) walked. After two outs, Ridsdale blasted a two-run homer to leftfield. A base hit and hit batter put the tying runs on base, but a fly out ended the game.

At the plate, junior Katelan Schoen (Climax/Climax-Scotts) was 2-for-3 with a pair of singles. Ridsdale also had two hits. Sophomore Kim Green (Portland) was charged with the loss, tossing four innings. She allowed three hits, three runs and struck out three batters. Anderson finished the game in relief.

Olivet continues MIAA play Thursday, April 13, when it travels to play Tri-State (Ind.) University. The first pitch of the doubleheader is set for 3:30 p.m.