Baseball team defeats Calvin, 9-5, in first game of MIAA series

The Olivet College baseball team defeated Calvin College, 9-5, this afternoon in the first game of a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) weekend series. The teams conclude the series tomorrow afternoon with two seven-inning contests, beginning at 1 p.m.

The Knights (7-16, 1-5 MIAA) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. The Fighting Comets (12-15, 4-3 MIAA) tied the game with two runs in the bottom half of the fourth. Olivet took a 4-2 lead in the fifth when freshman Chris Shelhart (Rolling Meadows, Ill./St. Viator) hit a ball that was misplayed by the Calvin third baseman.

After two outs had been recorded in the sixth inning, the Comets erupted for five runs, including three on a bases clearing double to left field by senior Joe Richards (Galesburg Augusta High School). Senior Ricky Strain (Livonia Churchill High School) brought home Richards on a triple to right field. Strain scored on a single by senior Beau Locker (Coldwater/Union City High School). Calvin closed the scoring with three runs (two unearned) in the seventh.

Offensively, the Comets pounded out 12 base hits with every starter except one having at least one. Richards, Shelhart, junior Brian Grappin (Flushing High School) and freshman Nick McIntosh (Petoskey High School) collected two hits apiece. Strain and junior Chris Stambek (Decatur High School) scored two runs.

On the mound, senior D.J. Celetti (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario/Notre Dame) won his sixth game of the 2004 season. He pitched seven solid innings, allowing nine hits and five runs (three earned). In relief, freshman Brad Dragicevich (Kalamazoo Central High School) tossed two hitless innings.

Following tomorrow's games, Olivet will travel for a non-league single game at Defiance (Ohio) College on Tuesday, April 20, at 4 p.m.