Softball team beats Menlo and Elizabethtown at Sun West Tournament

The Olivet College kicked off the 2004 season by sweeping two games during the first day of the Sun West Tournament hosted by Chapman University in Orange, California. In the first game, the Lady Comets defeated Menlo (Calif.) College, 6-4, and in the second game, they came from behind to knock off Elizabethtown (Pa.) College, 6-5.

After giving up a run in the first inning against Menlo, senior Kari Munson (Lansing Eastern High School) knotted the score with a two-out home run to right centerfield in the bottom of the inning. Menlo (4-5) tallied single runs in the third and fourth innings. Olivet then scored five runs on six hits in the fourth inning.

At the plate, the Comets pounded out 12 hits, including two each by seniors Theresa Flowers (Waterford Kettering High School) and Larissa Kequom (Charlotte High School) and juniors Jenn Newland (Tekonsha High School) and Beth Shunkwiler (Berrien Center/Berrien Springs High School). Newland drove in two runs, and Flowers also hit a home run. Sophomore Erica Anderson (Casnovia/Kent City High School) earned the victory after scattering six hits in seven innings.

Against Elizabethtown (1-1), Olivet fell behind 5-1 after four and one-half innings. The Comets added three runs in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the seventh for the victory. Senior Taneisha Pointer (Lansing Everett High School) plated senior Jenna Little (Orntonville Brandon High School) with the game-winning run with one out in the seventh.

Flowers was three-for-four with two doubles and two RBI. Shunkwiler collected two hits, including a double. Newland picked-up the win after tossing seven innings and allowing eight base hits and five runs (three earned).

The Comets will continue play in the Sun West Tournament tomorrow, March 2. At 10:45 a.m. PST, Olivet plays Ohio Northern University, followed by a 3:30 p.m. PST game against Concordia (Calif.) University.