Baseball team splits non-conference doubleheader against Rochester
The baseball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Rochester College this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. After dropping the first game 2-1, the Comets rebounded to win the second game, 6-2.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College baseball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Rochester College this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. After dropping the first game 2-1, the Comets rebounded to win the second game, 6-2.
In game one, the Warriors scored two unearned runs in the top of first inning. Olivet got one run back in the fifth inning but failed to score the tying run. For the game, each team had four hits. The Comets' four hits were singles by junior Austin Clark (Ossineke/Alpena), seniors Ben Kosmalski (Canton/Plymouth) and Braydon LaFramboise (Flushing/Mt. Morris), and freshman Jonny Zawacki (Alpena).
On the mound, sophomore Nick McCleary (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) was the hard luck loser. He threw six strong innings, allowing the two unearned runs with two strikeouts. LaFramboise pitched a hitless seventh inning.
In game two, Rochester used a triple and groundout to take a 1-0 lead with a run in the first inning. Olivet grabbed a 2-1 lead with a pair of runs in the home half of the first. LaFramboise walked, stole second, went to third on Kosmalski's single and crossed the plate on a single by sophomore Randy Young (Wixom/Walled Lake Western). A throwing error allowed Kosmalski to score the second run.
After the Warriors tied the game at 2-2 with a run in the top half of the third, the Comets regained the lead 3-2 with a run in the bottom half of the inning when Young doubled and scored on a single by freshman Chase Carter (Bradenton, Fla./Bradenton Catholic). Olivet added an unearned run in the fifth when LaFramboise drove in Zawacki.
The Comets scored two insurance runs in the sixth inning. Senior Beau Felix (Hartland) led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. He then scored when sophomore Justin Pitt (Imlay City) lined a double into leftfield. Pitt stole third base on the first pitch to freshman Joel Peters (Auburn Hills/Avondale). Then on the second pitch of his at-bat, Peters put down a perfect squeeze bunt back to the pitcher to score Pitt.
Offensively, the Comets finished the game with 11 hits. Young went 3-for-3 with a double and two singles. Carter and Kosmalski each had two hits. Four others had a hit apiece. Olivet pitched by committee. Freshman Jake Ball (Cadillac) started and threw the first two innings, allowing one run on two hits. Senior Brad Beisiegel (Royal Oak) tossed the next inning and also gave up one run on two hits.
Junior Ben Steffler (Lapeer/West) pitched two scoreless innings and was credited with the win as being the most effective reliever. Pitt threw the final two innings to pick-up the save.
Olivet will close out its season this weekend with a four-game Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association series against Trine (Ind.) University. The teams will play two games Friday at Trine's Jannen Field, starting at 2 p.m., and then the series concludes with a doubleheader at Olivet Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.