Softball team sweeps Huntington in home-opener

The Olivet College softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader from Huntington (Ind.) University today in its home-opener at the Cutler Athletic Complex. The Comets won both games, 5-4.

In game one, Olivet (6-8) put the first two runs on the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the first inning. After Huntington scored a run in the top half of the third inning, the Comets answered with a run in their own half of the third when freshman Meg Wernowsky (Bellevue) hit a RBI-single to score sophomore Kelsey Greene (Burr Oak). The Foresters trimmed their deficit with a run the fifth inning.

Olivet added two insurance runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Wernowsky laced a double to the right-center gap to plate Greene. She then went to second on a single by freshman Ciara Santos (Lansing/Everett) and scored on a wild pitch. Huntington scored two runs in the seventh before the tying run was thrown out at the plate.

The Comets finished the game with seven hits. Wernowsky was 2-for2 with two RBI. Junior Morgan Iloncaie (Port Huron/Imlay City) went 2-for-3. Greene reached base safely in each of her three plate appearances and scored a run each time. In the circle, junior Katie Harper (Vassar) was the winning pitcher. She threw six and one-third innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits. Sophomore Rachel Cook (Traverse City/Central) got the final two outs of the game for her first collegiate save.

In the nightcap, Huntington scored three times in the second inning. Olivet pushed across a run in the home half of the second when Santos brought home junior Christine Daub (Hudson), who led off the inning with an infield single. The Foresters made the score 4-1 with a home run to lead off the third inning. The Comets took advantage of two Huntington errors to score four runs in the bottom half of the third. The teams failed to score any runs in the final four innings.

The Comets had seven hits, all singles. Daub led the way with two. Greene was the winning pitcher after throwing three innings, giving up four earned runs on eight hits. Cook pitched four scoreless innings in relief. Each pitcher struck out two batters.

Olivet is now idle for one week and will host Albion College next Thursday, April 1, to open Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play. Game one of the doubleheader is slated to start at 3:30 p.m.