Softball team ends spring break trip with two losses
The softball team wrapped up its spring break trip with a pair of losses today at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. The Comets lost a heartbreaker to Drew (N.J.) University, 2-1, and then fell to SUNY-Fredonia, 11-3, in five innings. Despite the losses, Olivet ends its trip to the Sunshine State with a 9-3 record.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. – The Olivet College softball team wrapped up its spring break trip with a pair of losses today at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. The Comets lost a heartbreaker to Drew (N.J.) University, 2-1, and then fell to SUNY-Fredonia, 11-3, in five innings. Despite the losses, Olivet ends its trip to the Sunshine State with a 9-3 record.
Drew took a 1-0 lead with a run in the top half of the fifth inning. The Comets got the run back with a run in the bottom half of the fifth. Freshman Alyssa Nielsen (Greenville) walked, stole second, went to third on an infield single and scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman Lauren Lenard (Dimondale/Lansing Catholic). The Rangers scored the winning run in the seventh. Olivet had a runner in scoring position in its half of the seventh but a fly out ended the threat.
The Comets were held to four hits. The only extra base hit was a double by Nielsen. In the circle, sophomore Breanne Harmon (Quincy) was the losing pitcher. She allowed the two runs on eight hits, while striking out seven.
Against Fredonia, Olivet scored the first run of the game in the first inning when Nielsen hit a double off the fence in centerfield, moved to third on a groundout and crossed the plate on a double by Lenard. The Blue Devils then sent 11 batters to the plate and scored seven runs, which only one was earned, in the last half of the first.
The Comets got two runs back in the top half of the third. Fredonia scored two runs in its half of the third and fourth innings to create the 8-run margin and end the game early.
Offensively, Nielsen and senior Jenny Robbins (Fenton) each went 2-for-3. Nielsen scored two runs. In the circle, junior Rachel Cook (Traverse City/Central) was charged with the loss, as she gave up 11 runs (five earned) on 11 hits in four innings.
Olivet returns home to Michigan tonight and then opens its northern schedule next Thursday, March 17, with a home doubleheader against Grand Valley State University. First pitch for game one is 3 p.m.