Softball team settles for split at Gene Cusic Classic

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Olivet College softball team settled for a split in its two games today at the Gene Cusic Classic and inside the Lee County Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Fla. The Comets lost their first game, 6-0. Behind four hits and five RBI by sophomore Lauren Lenard (Dimondale/Lansing Catholic), Olivet bounced back to beat University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 7-4.

In the first game, Smith pushed across a run in the second inning. The Pioneers then took advantage of three Comet errors in the third inning to score four more runs, which only one was earned. Smith capped the scoring with a solo home run in the fifth.

Offensively, Olivet had just two hits, an infield single by Lenard in the first inning and a single through the left side of the infield by junior Lindsey Maas (Pinckney). In the circle, freshman Nicole McCoy (Detroit/Mumford) threw the first three innings and was saddled with the loss. Freshman Jessica Duell (Ionia) pitched three innings of relief, allowed the run on two hits, while striking out four and walking only one.

The Comets wasted no time against Dartmouth, as they scored two runs in the top half of the first. Senior Christine Daub (Hudson) led off the game with a triple to the right-center gap. Lenard followed with a double to score Daub. After a single by junior Ciara Santos (Lansing/Everett) put runners on the corners, Lenard scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Sarah Mecham (Eaton Rapids).

The Corsairs tied the game at 2-2 with two runs in the home half of the first. Olivet immediately answered with a two-rally to score three runs in its half of the second. Junior Marlene Packer (Grand Rapids/Creston) hit a single to start the rally, went to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on a passed ball. Daub walked and then stole second base. Lenard came through with a double to score both base runners. Santos kept the inning alive with a single to score Lenard from second.

Dartmouth got a run back in the third. The Comets used another two-out rally to plate two insurance runs in the sixth. Maas was hit by a pitch and Daub ripped a single into right field to move Maas up to third base. Daub stole her second base of the game. Lenard then lined a 1-1 pitch into left field to score the runners.

The Corsairs scored one run in the bottom half of the seventh and brought the tying run to the plate. Olivet got out of the jam with two groundouts.

For the game, Lenoard went 4-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and two singles. She also drove in five runs and scored two runs. Daub was 2-for-3 and scored three times. Santos also finished with two hits. In the circle, Duell started and tossed the two and one-third innings, yielding three runs on five hits. Senior Rachel Cook (Traverse City/Central) was credited with the win in relief, as she threw four and two-thirds innings.

The Comets will play their final two games in Florida tomorrow against Hendrix (Ark.) College at 11 a.m., and College of Wooster (Ohio) at 1 p.m. Both games will be played at the Lee County Sports Complex.