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Baseball: Kirck’s home runs lift Olivet over Fredonia State, 13-7

Box Score
Baseball: Kirck’s home runs lift Olivet over Fredonia State, 13-7
March 15, 2024

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Senior Gabriel Kirck hit two home runs and drove in seven runs, as The University of Olivet baseball team ended its spring break trip with a 13-7 win over Fredonia State (N.Y.) University this afternoon at Crosley Field.

  • Final Score: Olivet 13, Fredonia State 7
  • Location: Crosley Field; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
  • Records: Olivet 5-8 overall, Fredonia State 4-5 overall

  • The Comets took a 3-0 lead in the first inning when Kirck hit his first home run, a three-run blast.
  • The Blue Devils got one back in the bottom half of the inning on a triple and balk.
  • Olivet answered with its own run in the top of second. Junior Jihari Watkins singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, went to third on a groundout and scored on a passed ball.
  • Fredonia State cut its deficit down to one with a pair of runs in the last half of the fourth.
  • The Comets added another run in the fifth inning to make the score 5-3.
  • Olivet stretched its lead to 8-3 with a three-run sixth inning.
  • After the Blue Devils closed the gap to two runs in the last half of the seventh, the Comets dented the scoreboard with five unearned runs in the top of eighth inning. A single, intentional walk and hit by pitch loaded the bases. With two outs, sophomore Braden Abbott reached to drive in the first run and re-load the bases. Kirck un-loaded the bases with a grand slam home run.
  • Fredonia plated its final run in the last half of the eighth inning.

  • Olivet totaled 13 hits.
  • From the leadoff spot, senior Matthew Fennell was 3-for-5 with three runs scored.
  • Watkins also had three hits and three runs.
  • Kirck hit two home runs and collected seven RBI.
  • Sophomore Nate Droste tallied two hits, including a double.
  • Senior Keegan Kuha earned the pitching win after throwing the first five innings. He allowed two earned runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out nine.

  • Olivet flies back to Michigan tomorrow and is back in action next Wednesday, March 20, for its home-opener against Grace Christian University. The first pitch at the Cutler Athletic Complex is set for 4 p.m. for the single, nine-inning contest.