Softball team sweeps doubleheader from MIAA rival Albion College, 7-5 and 11-6

Comets advance to the MIAA Tournament for the third time in the last four years

The Olivet College softball team rallied from five runs down in the first game and three runs down in the second game to sweep a doubleheader from Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Albion College this afternoon in Olivet. The Comets (24-10, 10-6 MIAA) won by scores of 7-5 and 11-6.

With the sweep, Olivet broke the school single season-record for wins. A year ago, the team won 22 games. In addition, the Comets advance to the MIAA Tournament for the third time in the last four years. Hope College will host the tournament next Friday and Saturday, May 5-6. As the No. 4 seed, Olivet will play No. 1 seed Hope Friday at 1 p.m.

In the first game, the Britons (20-20, 8-8 MIAA) took a 5-0 lead with five runs in the second inning. The Comets answered with three runs in their half of the second, cut the deficit to one on a home run by freshman Alisha Ridsdale (Laingsburg) in the third frame and took the lead for good with a three-run fifth inning.

At the plate, junior Katelan Schoen (Climax/Climax-Scotts) and freshmen Christina Luna (Charlotte) and Heidi Wear (Hastings/Wayland) had two hits a piece. Schoen recorded a pair of singles, while Luna and Wear each had a single and double. Other extra base hits were doubles by freshmen Kacie Rosecrants (Parma/Western) and Katie Walker (Lansing/Everett). Walker collected a team-high two RBI.

In the circle, senior Erica Anderson (Casnovia/Kent City), who was playing in her final home games, gained the win to improve her season record to 13-5. She pitched seven innings, allowed five runs (one earned) on six hits.

In the nightcap, Albion scored two runs in the first inning and another run in the second to take a 3-0 lead. Olivet got two runs back in the third inning. The Comets tied the game in the fourth inning with a lead off home run by freshman Kacey Darling (Hartford) that just stayed fair down the left field line. They added two more runs in the inning to take a 5-3 lead.

The Britons made it a 5-4 game with a run in their half of the fourth. Olivet responded with two runs in its half of the sixth. Albion answered those runs with two runs in their half of the sixth. The Comets put the game away with a four-run seventh inning.

In the game, Olivet tallied 15 hits, including six doubles. Sophomore Jessica Schmansky (Clarkston/ Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes) was 4-for-4. She had two singles and two doubles. Wear had three hits, including two doubles, scored three times and drove in three runs. Rosecrants also collected three hits. Darling and Walker each had two hits.

In the circle, sophomore Kim Green (Portland) earned the win. She started and pitched four innings, scattering seven hits. In relief, Anderson tossed the final three innings to pick-up the save. She gave up four hits and two runs.