UOlivet defeated by Grace Christian, 8-6, in home-opener
Grace Christian
13-10
8
Olivet
8-7
6
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 13 | 3 |
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 2 |
March 24, 2026
OLIVET, Mich. – The University of Olivet baseball team could not complete the comeback, as the Comets fell to Grace Christian University, 8-6, this afternoon in their home-opener at the Cutler Athletic Complex.
THE BASICS
- Final Score: Grace Christian 8, Olivet 6
- Location: Cutler Athletic Complex; Olivet, Michigan
- Records: Olivet 8-7 overall, Grace Christian 13-10 overall
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Tigers scored three runs in the top of the first inning. The Comets answered with two unearned runs in the home half of the first when the Grace Christian shortstop committed an error, allowing senior Braden Abbott and freshman Mario Ricard to score.
- The Tigers pushed across a single run in each of the next four innings to increase their lead to 7-2. Olivet got one run back in the last half of the fifth inning when sophomore Brady Southfield drove in senior Kaleb Spahr who hit a double.
- Grace Christian added a run to its total in the eighth inning. The Comets scored three runs in the ninth inning. The first two runs scored on a double by sophomore Daniel Black. The third run scored when the right fielder dropped a fly ball off Abbott's bat. Southfield walked to put the tying run on base before a strikeout ended the game.
FOR THE COMETS
- Olivet finished the game with nine hits, with nine different players each collecting one hit.
- The extra base hits were doubles by Abbott, Black and Spahr.
- Freshman Jakeb McDonald was charged with the pitching loss. He surrendered five runs (four earned) on seven hits over the first three innings.
- Junior Austin Wittrock threw four innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits, while striking out four.
- Junior EJ Suggitt tossed the final two innings, giving up a run on two hits and two walks.
UP NEXT
- The Comets begin Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play this weekend against Hope College. Olivet hosts the Flying Dutchmen on Friday afternoon for a nine-inning game at 4 p.m. The series then moves to Boeve Stadium in Holland on Saturday for a doubleheader, starting at 1 p.m.