Softball team swept by Alma, 3-2 and 4-3

The Olivet College softball team lost a pair of one-run games, 3-2 and 4-3, against Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) leader Alma College today in Olivet. The Scots (21-7, 8-0 MIAA) scored two runs in their final at-bat of each game to record the come-from-behind victories.

In the first game, Alma took a 1-0 lead with a run in the fourth. The Comets (14-9, 2-5 MIAA) answered with two runs in the home half of the fourth. With one out, junior Amy Cooper (Bath) hit a solo home run. After an out had been recorded, sophomore Kacey Darling (Hartford) was hit by a pitch. Senior Shannon Hall (Taylor/Truman) advanced her to second base with a single to centerfield. Sophomore Kacie Rosecrants (Parma/Western) stepped up and hit a double into the left-center alley to score Darling.

Another hit advanced the runner to third, followed by a wild pitch to bring home what proved to be the winning run.

At the plate, Rosecrants was two-for-two with a RBI. Three other Comets each had a hit. In the circle, senior Danielle Kapral (Lapeer/East) was charged with the loss. She scattered four hits in six and one-third innings, while striking out six. In relief, sophomore Corie Greene (Brown City) recorded the final two outs.

In the nightcap, Olivet scored a run in the first inning. Sophomore Heidi Wear (Hastings/Wayland Union) singled to leftfield. A Christina Luna (Charlotte) groundout and passed ball moved her to second and third base, respectively. Cooper hit a single up the middle to score Wear. The Scots tied the game at 1-1 with a run in the second and took a 2-1 lead with another run in the fifth.

Olivet regained the lead, 3-2, with two runs in the sixth inning. Rosecrants led off with a single. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Wear. After an out had been recorded, Cooper blasted a home run over the fence in left-centerfield. Alma answered with two runs in its half of the sixth. Both runs scored on two-out base hits.

Offensively, the Comets had five hits, including two by Cooper. She also drove in three runs. Greene suffered the pitching loss. She allowed four runs (three earned) off eight Alma hits. She walked one and struck out one.

Olivet returns to the field Monday, April 16, when it travels to play Calvin College at 3:30 p.m.