UOlivet splits season-finale doubleheader at Kalamazoo

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The University of Olivet baseball team split its season-finale and Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) twinbill against Kalamazoo College this afternoon at Woodworth Field. The Comets scored two runs in the ninth inning to win game one, 2-1. The Hornets came back to win the nightcap, 5-1.

THE BASICS

• Final Scores: Olivet 2, Kalamazoo 1; Kalamazoo 5, Olivet 1
• Location: Woodworth Field; Kalamazoo, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 17-20 overall, 9-12 MIAA; Kalamazoo 30-9 overall, 14-7 MIAA

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

• Neither team was able to generate any runs until the Hornets scored a run in the bottom of eighth. Kalamazoo loaded the bases with one out, but the Comet defense ended the threat by turning a double play.
• Olivet took advantage of two Hornet errors to score their runs in the top of the ninth. Senior Mikey Kuzara led hit a single through the left side of the infield. Freshman Mario Ricard ran for Kuzara. Senior Will Myrick reached base on an error by the third baseman. Freshman Ryan Wiggins entered the game as a pinch hitter. The first pitch to him was wild, allowed Ricard and Myrick to move up a base. Wiggins' batted ball was misplayed by the second baseman and both runner scored.
• In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Kalamazoo batters were retired 1-2-3 via flyout right field, ground out and fly out to center field.
• On the mound, freshman Dawson Sherman allowed a run on two hits over the first seven and one-third innings. Junior Logan Lewis threw the final inning and two-thirds to pick up the win.
• At the plate, senior Tyler Hall tallied two of the five Comet hits. The lone extra-base hit was a double by senior Brody Parten.

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

• The Hornets pushed across three runs in the top of first inning. Senior Nick Stokan blasted a solo home run over the left field fence in the top of second. Kalamazoo stretched its lead to 5-1 with a pair of runs in the fifth inning. There was no scoring in the final four innings.
• At the plate, Olivet totaled four hits, one each for Myrick, Stokan, senior Braden Abbott and junior Ray Strzynski. On the mound, freshman Wyatt Ball suffered the loss. He gave up three runs on three hits and one walk in one inning.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• With the win yesterday and today's first game win, the Comets won the series against the Hornets. The last time Olivet won a series against Kalamazoo was 2013 when it won 3-of-4 games.
• The Comets held the Hornets to one or zero runs in back-to-back games for only the third time in school history, with the last time being 2004.
• Olivet ends the season with a 17-20 overall record. The 17 wins are the most since the Comets won 2013 when they won 20.