Softball team loses pair of two-run games at Gene Cusic Classic

The Olivet College softball team opened its 2008 season with a pair of two-run losses today at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. In their first game, the Comets fell to Elms College, 6-4, in nine innings, and in their second game, St. Joseph's College of Maine posted a 7-5 win.

Against Elms, Olivet took a 1-0 lead with a run in top half of the first inning. The Blazers came back with three runs in the fifth and one more run in the sixth to take a 4-1 lead. The Comets forced extra innings after scoring two runs in the home half of the sixth and one more in the seventh. After neither team scored in the eighth, Elms tallied two runs in the top half of the ninth. In the bottom half of the ninth, Olivet had a runners on second and third with nobody out, but did not score.

Juniors Anna Braner (Belmond, Iowa/Marshall) and Heidi Wear (Hastings/Wayland Union) each had two hits and one RBI. Wear's hits were a double and a triple, while Braner had two singles. Sophomore Jenny Robbins (Fenton) also had two hits, including a triple. Wear scored a two runs. In the circle, sophomore Karlie McManaman (Williamston) suffered the loss, as she went five and one-third innings, allowing four runs (one earned) on four hits. She walked three and struck out six. Freshman Katie Harper (Vassar) finished the game in the circle, giving up two unearned runs on two hits.

Against St. Joe's, Olivet scored a run in the top half of the first inning. The Monks took advantage of three Comet errors to score five runs (four unearned) in the bottom half of the first. The Comets trimmed their deficit down to a run, 5-4, when they scored two times in the fifth. Like the first, St. Joe's responded by scoring two runs in the home half of the fifth. Olivet closed the scoring with a run in the sixth.

Offensively, junior Cassie Bowerman (Quincy) was 3-for-4 with a RBI and run scored. Braner and Wear had two hits a piece. In the circle, junior Beth DeLora (Muskegon/Oakridge) was tagged with the loss. In six innings of work, she allowed eight hits and three earned runs.

The Comets will look to bounce back from the losses tomorrow when they play Salem State (Mass.) College at 9 a.m. and Drew (N.J.) University at 11 a.m.