Baseball: Olivet loses doubleheader to Alma, 11-8 and 17-6

OLIVET, Mich. – The University of Olivet baseball team suffered a pair of losses to Alma College in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) twinbill today at the Cutler Athletic Complex. The Scots won by scores of 11-8 and 17-6.

• Final Scores: Alma 11, Olivet 8; Alma 17, Olivet 6
• Location: Cutler Athletic Complex; Olivet, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 8-24 overall, 2-13 MIAA; Alma 19-12 overall, 9-4 MIAA

• The Scots built a 3-0 lead behind a single tally in the first inning and two runs in the third inning.
• Olivet used a two-out rally to plate one run in the home half of the third. Sophomore Will Myrick and senior Matthew Fennell hit back-to-back singles. Freshman Owen Smith laced an RBI-single to score Myrick from third base.
• The Comets had another two-out uprising to take a 4-3 lead with three runs in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, Myrick lined a single to shallow left-center field to score the first two runs, and Fennell followed with a single to score the third run.
• Olivet extended its lead to 8-3 with a four-run fifth inning. Driving in runs were a single by freshman Jack Friesen, a double by junior Ethan VanLannen and a triple by Myrick.
• Alma cut its deficit down to two runs with three runs in the sixth inning before evening the score with two runs in the eighth inning.
• The Scots needed just one hit to score three runs in the top of the ninth inning.
• The Comets brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth but failed to score any runs.

• Olivet out-hit Alma, 15-9.
• Myrick went 3-for-4 with three RBI.
• Friesen also had three hits and scored two runs.
• Fennell and junior Brendan Monroe each recorded two hits.
• Sophomore Braden Abbott also tallied two runs.
• Sophomore Charlie Quilliam was the losing pitcher in relief of sophomore starter Bryan Carney.

• Alma pushed across five runs in the first inning.
• Senior Gabriel Kirck responded with a solo home run. The homer moves him into a tie for second all-time at Olivet with 17.
• The Scots pushed their lead to 7-1 on a two-run home run in the second inning.
• The Comets closed the gap with four runs in the last half of the second frame. The big hit of the inning was a two-run single by Smith.
• Alma added to its lead with two runs in the third, two runs in the sixth and one run in the seventh and eighth innings to go up 13-5.
• A bases-loaded walk plated one run for the Comets in the bottom of the eighth.
• The Scots ended the scoring with a four-run ninth inning.

• Olivet totaled eight hits.
• Abbott was 3-for-4 with three singles.
• Five other players each had one hit.
• Sophomore Nate Droste was tagged with the pitching loss.

• The Comets face Kalamazoo College for their next league series. The nine-inning game is scheduled for Friday at the Cutler Athletic Complex, with the first pitch set for 4 p.m.