Softball team splits doubleheader at Defiance

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Olivet College softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Defiance (Ohio) College today at Sal Hench Field in Defiance, Ohio. Each team used one big inning to pull out a victory, as Olivet scored five runs in the fifth inning to win the first game, 10-6, and Defiance pushed across eight runs in the sixth inning en route to a 10-4 victory in the nightcap.

In the opener, Olivet scored an unearned run in the top half of the first inning. After Defiance answered with a run in the home half of the first, the Comets scored twice in the second inning on RBI-singles by sophomore Lindsey Maas (Pinckney) and freshman Alyssa Nielsen (Greenville).

The Yellow Jackets got one run back in the bottom half of the second. Olivet added to its lead with a pair of runs in the third inning. Sophomore Ciara Santos (Lansing/Everett) drove in the first run with a single, and Maas plated the second run with a double in the right-centerfield gap.

Defiance took its first lead of the game, 6-5, on a solo home run in the third and a three-run homer in the fourth. The Comets regained the lead, 10-6, by sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring five runs in the top half of the fifth. The big hit in the inning was two-run single by Nielsen.

Offensively, Olivet erupted for 15 hits. Maas went 3-for-4, scored two runs and drove in two runs. Nielsen, freshman Lauren Lenard (Dimondale/Lansing Catholic), senior Jenny Robbins (Fenton) and junior Nicole Wernette (Remus/Chippewa Hills) each had two hits. Nielsen collected a team-leading three RBI.

In the circle, senior Katie Harper (Vassar) earned the victory. She allowed six runs (four earned) on 10 hits in five and two-thirds innings. Junior Rachel Cook (Traverse City/Central) retired the four batters she faced, including striking out the batter to end the sixth inning, to record the save.

The second game was a pitcher's duel for the first three innings. The Comets broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the fourth. The big play of the frame was a throwing error by the Defiance third baseman that allowed two runs to score. The Yellow Jackets responded with a run in their half of the fourth.

Olivet and Defiance traded runs in the fifth inning. The Comets scored their run on a pinch-hit RBI-single by freshman Terri Hurosky (Nashville/Maple Valley), while the Yellow Jackets used a sacrifice fly to push across their run. Defiance erased a 4-2 deficit and took the lead for good when it scored eight runs in the sixth inning.

Olivet finished the game with just eight hits, including two each for Nielsen and Santos. In the circle, Cook suffered the loss, as she gave up six earned runs on eight hits in five and one-third innings. She struck out four. Sophomore Breanne Harmon (Quincy) threw in relief.

The Comets host Rochester College for two games next Wednesday, March 23, at 3 p.m.