Softball team splits doubleheader with Saint Mary's in MIAA and home-opener

The Olivet College softball team split a doubleheader with Saint Mary's (Ind.) College in its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and home-opener today in Olivet. In the first game, the Comets rallied to beat the Belles, 6-5, in 10 innings. Saint Mary's won the second game, 10-2.

In the first game, Olivet jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a three-run first inning. Junior Anna Braner (Belmond, Iowa/Marshall) walked to lead off the inning. She stole second and scored on a double by junior Heidi Wear (Hastings/Wayland Union). Wear crossed the plate on a double by junior Kacie Rosecrants (Parma/Western). Rosecrants came around to score on a single by junior Beth DeLora (Muskegon/Oakridge).

The Belles made it a one-run game with two runs in the fifth inning and forced extra innings on a home run by Ashley Peterson in the seventh inning. There was no scoring in the first two extra frames. In the top half of the tenth, Saint Mary's scored a pair of runs.

The Comets responded by scoring three runs in the home half of the tenth. Wear was placed on second base because of the international tie-breaker rule. Rosecrants stepped to the plate and hit a double to move Wear to third base. A single through the left-side of the infield brought home Wear and moved Rosecrants to third. A fielder's choice off the bat of junior Kacey Darling (Hartford) allowed Rosecrants to tie the game. Junior Felicia Smith (Spring Lake) was next up, and she ripped a double in the right-centerfield alley, scoring Darling from first base.

At the plate, Darling, DeLora, Rosecrants, Wear and junior Cassie Bowerman (Quincy) each had two hits. Darling's and Rosecrants' hits were doubles. Wear had a double and single, while Bowerman and DeLora had two singles.

In the circle, DeLora started and threw six innings. She gave up two runs on four hits, while striking out three. Freshman Katie Harper (Vassar) pitched innings of relief to earn the win.

In the nightcap, the Belles led 5-0 after two innings. Olivet got on the scoreboard in the third inning. Following a walk to Braner and a single by Wear, Rosecrants lined a double in the left-center gap to score both runners. Saint Mary's tallied five runs in the fourth, which then caused the game to end early because of the eight-run mercy rule.

The Comets were limited to five hits. Extra base hits were Roscrants' double and a double by Smith. In the circle, sophomore Karlie McManaman (Williamston) was charged with the loss. She surrendered four runs in one and one-third innings.

Olivet (6-12, 1-1 MIAA) is back in action Saturday when it hosts Adrian College for a MIAA doubleheader, beginning at 1 p.m.