Baseball: Olivet swept at home by Rochester, 9-3 and 7-6

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College baseball team was swept by Rochester College in a non-conference doubleheader this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The Warriors won the first game 9-3 before scoring three runs in the sixth to win the nightcap, 7-6.

In the opener, Rochester scored five runs in the second inning. The Comets answered with a pair of runs in the home half of the second. Senior Jonny Zawacki walked to lead off the inning and went to second base on a wild pitch. He came around to score on an errant throw by the Warrior first baseman. Later in the inning, senior Conner Magro scored on senior Beau Langs' base hit.

Rochester got those runs back plus another in the third inning on a three-run home run by Brandon Dupuis. The Warriors tacked on another run in the fourth to make the score 9-2. With the bases loaded in the bottom half of the fourth, senior Drew Thompson walked to bring home sophomore Andrew Dayfield. There was no scoring in the final three innings for either team.

At the plate, freshman Luke Spotts reached base safely in each of his four plate appearances – twice after being hit by a pitch and the other two times on base hits. Langs also had two hits. Junior Jarred Scheese started on the mound but could not get out of the second inning after giving up five runs on five hits. Three relievers finished the game. Sophomore Cameron Hendrickson was the most effective, yielding an unearned run on five hits over the final four innings.

In the second game, Olivet took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when junior Ryan Hendricks deposited a full-count pitch over the fence in left field for his second home run of the season. The Comets doubled their lead in the third inning. Zawacki was hit by a pitch and slid under the tag at the plate after Thompson hit a double off the fence in left field.

Rochester tied the game with a pair of runs in the fourth inning and took a 4-2 lead on a two-run home run an inning later. The Comets grabbed the lead back 6-4 with a four-spot in the home half of the fifth frame. Sophomore Zach Kitzmiller and Spotts walked to start the inning. Following a successful bunt by Zawacki, Thompson brought home both runners with a double.

After a pitching change, sophomore Austin Cleaver lined a double to score Thompson. Hendricks then collected his second RBI of the game with a single to plate Cleaver. In the sixth inning, the Warriors scored one run on an RBI-single before scoring the tying and go-ahead runs on a two-run home run by Nick Tomilenko. The Comets left the tying run stranded in scoring position in both the sixth and seventh innings.

For the game, Spotts did not record an official at-bat despite getting on four more times. He was hit by a pitch in the first inning and drew walks in his other three at-bats. Cleaver, Hendricks and Thompson were all 2-for-4 with a run scored. Thompson drove in a game-high three runs.

On the mound, freshman Austin Hickey got the start but allowed two runs on two hits in three and one-third innings. Junior Stephen Botti threw an inning and two-thirds of relief before giving way to freshman Joseph Crosby who faced two batters but did not get an out. Zawacki was tagged with the loss after surrendering the winning run.

The Comets continue their Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) schedule Saturday and Sunday against Kalamazoo College. Saturday's games will be played in Olivet, while Sunday's games will be in Kalamazoo. Both doubleheaders have a 1 p.m. start time.