Softball team sweeps doubleheader from Huntington, 5-3 and 4-2

Behind a pair of complete game pitching performances, the Olivet College softball team swept a doubleheader from Huntington (Ind.) University this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The Comets (13-20) won by scores of 5-3 in the first game and 4-2 in the second game.

In the first game, the Foresters scored two runs in the top half of the first inning. Olivet answered with three runs in its half of the first. Junior Kacie Rosecrants (Parma/Western) led off the game with a triple over the right fielder's head and scored on junior Kacey Darling's (Harford) groundout to second base.

Junior Beth DeLora (Muskegon/Oakridge) kept the inning alive with a walk and came all the way around to score on a double by junior Anna Braner (Belmond, Iowa/Marshall). Braner scored on an infield single off the bat of sophomore Jenny Robbins (Fenton).

The Comets added two insurance runs in the sixth. DeLora singled and went to second when the Huntington left fielder threw the ball away. She crossed the plate on Braner's second double of the game. Braner took third on a flyout to right field and scored on a wild pitch. The Foresters threatened to tie the game in the top half of the seventh, as they scored one run and brought the tying run to the plate.

Braner finished the game with two hits, two runs scored and two RBI. Five others each had a hit. In the circle, DeLora allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits over seven innings of work.

Olivet scored the first run of the nightcap in the third inning when junior Cassie Bowerman (Quincy) walked, went to second on Rosecrants' sacrifice bunt and scored on a single up the middle by junior Heidi Wear (Hastings/Wayland Union). The Comets made the score 2-0 with a run in the fourth inning. DeLora ripped a double to the right-centerfield gap, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a perfectly executed double steal.

Bowerman got the Comets rolling in the fifth inning when she reached base on a throwing error. The error also allowed her to go to second base. An infield single by Rosecrants advanced Bowerman to third. Wear singled home Bowerman and moved Rosecrants to second. Darling walked to load the bases. A groundout by Braner plated Rosecrants. Huntington pushed across a run in the sixth and seventh innings.

For the game, Wear was 3-for-3 with two RBI. DeLora had two doubles and scored a run. Bowerman scored twice. In the circle, freshman Katie Harper (Vassar) gave up two runs (one earned) on seven hits. She walked one and struck out seven.

The Comets will travel to play a single make-up game against Alma College tomorrow at 2 p.m.