Softball team splits first two games of 2011 season

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Olivet College softball team split its first two games of the 2011 season today at the Gene Cusic Classic and inside the Lee County Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Fla. Behind a complete game, three-hit pitching performance by senior Katie Harper (Vassar), the Comets opened the season with a 3-0 shutout victory over Bridgewater State (Mass.) College. Olivet then fell to Bethany Lutheran (Minn.) College, 9-1, in their second game.

Against Bridgewater State, freshman Lauren Lenard (Dimondale/Lansing Catholic) had a pinch hit two-run single in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie. Later in the inning, junior Kelsey Greene (Burr Oak) hit a sacrifice fly to score the third run.

For the game, four different Comets each had a base hit. Senior Christine Daub (Hudson) and junior Bridget Lathers (Grass Lake/Lumen Christi) reached base safely two times apiece. Harper struck out five batters in her seven innings.

Bethany Lutheran scored a run in the fourth and sixth innings to take a 2-0 lead. Olivet got a run back in the bottom half of the sixth when sophomore Ashley Mallo (Constantine) bounced a hit up the middle that rolled all the way to the fence in centerfield and allowed junior Brooke Coshow (Niles/Brandywine) from first base. The Vikings put the game away with seven runs in the seventh inning.

The Comets finished the game with six hits. The extra base hits were doubles by Lenard, Mallo and freshman Terri Hurosky (Nashville/Maple Valley). Junior Rachel Cook (Traverse City/Central) suffered the pitching loss, as she gave up seven earned runs on 11 hits. She struck out nine batters.

Olivet continues play at the Gene Cusic Classic tomorrow with two more games. The first is at 9 a.m. against Clark (Mass.) University, followed by a game against Anna Maria (Mass.) College. These games will be played at the Cape Coral Sports Complex in Cape Coral, Fla.