Sotball team swept at Trine, 4-2 and 8-0

ANGOLA, Ind. – The Olivet College softball team was swept in a doubleheader at defending Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) champion Trine (Ind.) University today in Angola, Ind. The Thunder won by scores of 4-2 and 8-0.

In the first game, Olivet jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top half of the first inning. Senior Lauren Lenard (Dimondale/Lansing Catholic) led off with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from junior Ashley Milheim (Eaton Rapids) and scored on freshman Ashlynn Grubb's (LaGrange, Ind./Lakeland) RBI-single. Trine tied the game on a leadoff home run in the bottom half of the fourth.

The Thunder then took advantage of a Comet throwing error on a pickoff attempt to score the go-ahead run in the fifth inning. Trine added two runs in the sixth on a two-run homer. Olivet did not go down quietly in the seventh inning, as it loaded the bases with one out.

A line drive off the Milheim's bat was snared by the second baseman for the second out. Grubb then reached on an infield single to plate sophomore Maddy Siebenmark (Bridgman). Another hard line drive off the bat of senior Terri Hurosky (Nashville/Maple Valley) was caught for the third out.

Olivet out-hit Trine, 8-6. Grubb, Lenard and freshman Devon Mayse (Adrian/Madison) each had two hits. In the circle, Grubb suffered the loss. She allowed the four runs (three earned), while striking out four and walking only one.

In the nightcap, the Comets' best chance to score came in the first inning. Olivet had the bases loaded before a pop out ended its threat. The Thunder came back with three runs in the top half of the second. Trine pushed across four runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to end the game early due to the eight-run mercy rule.

For the game, the Comets were held to two singles, one each from Hurosky and senior Alyssa Nielsen (Greenville). In the circle, freshman Morgan Stratton (Grand Blanc) was charged with her first loss of the season, as she gave up the eight runs on 13 hits.

Olivet is scheduled to host Franklin (Ind.) College for a non-conference doubleheader tomorrow afternoon, starting at 2:30 p.m.