Baseball team defeats Tri-State, 8-4

The Olivet College baseball team defeated non-conference foe Tri-State (Ind.) University, 8-4, this afternoon in the first game of weekend series in Olivet. The two teams will conclude the series tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

The Thunder (8-11) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. They held the lead until the fifth inning when the Fighting Comets (7-12) exploded for six runs. Sophomore Eddie Jones (Warren/St. Clement High School) hit a two-run double to right centerfield, senior Beau Locker (Coldwater/Union City High School) had a two-run single and junior shortstop Ben Thomas (Kalamazoo/Comstock Park High School) drove in a run with a double.

Olivet added two more runs in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Jones and a single by senior Joe Richard (Galesburg Augusta High School). Tri-State tallied a run in the seventh and eighth innings.

In the game, the Comets had eight base hits, including four doubles. Senior Ricky Strain (Livonia Churchill High School) was two-for-four with two singles and two runs scored. Sophomore Stan Cieslak (Troy Avondale High School) also scored two runs.

Senior D.J. Celetti (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario/Notre Dame) started the game earned the victory on the mound, pitching six and two-thirds innings. He gave up three earned runs and struck out four batters. Thomas picked-up the save after tossing the final inning and two-thirds. He faced five batters, striking out three.

Following tomorrow's doubleheader, Olivet will host Finlandia University for a non-league doubleheader on Wednesday, April 7, at noon.