Softball team splits MIAA doubleheader with Adrian

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College softball team split a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader with Adrian College this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The Bulldogs scored a run in top half of the seventh inning to win game one, 4-3. Olivet rallied back with a seven-run sixth inning to pull out a 10-7 win in game two.

In game one, Adrian scored three runs in the fourth inning. The Comets got one run back in the fifth inning when sophomore Alyssa Nielsen (Greenville) drew a bases-loaded walk to score junior Marlene Packer (Grand Rapids/Creston). Olivet used a two-out rally to tie the game with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the sixth.

Packer and sophomore Terri Hurosky (Nashville/Maple Valley) started the rally with back-to-back singles. Sophomore Lauren Lenard (Dimondale/Lansing Catholic) drove Packer with the first run with a single into centerfield. Junior Lindsey Maas (Pinckney) walked to load the bases. On the 10th pitch to her, junior Alison Iuelle (Kentwood/Kelloggsville) walked to bring in Hurosky with the second run. The Bulldogs used a walk and two consecutive singles to score what proved to be the winning run.

Offensively, Olivet had only five hits, including two each for Lenard and Packer. Senior Rachel Cook (Traverse City/Central) was the hard luck loser. She gave up the four runs on seven hits.

In game two, the Comets took a 3-0 lead with a run in the second inning on an RBI-single by Lenard and two runs in the third inning on an RBI-single by Nielsen and RBI-double by senior Christine Daub (Hudson). Adrian made the score 3-2 with single runs in bottom half of the third and fourth innings. The Bulldogs then appeared to seize control of the game when they scored five runs on two hits and three Olivet errors in the fifth inning.

The Comets answered when they sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the sixth. Maas and Iuelle led off with singles and each moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt from Nielsen. Hurosky hit a single to score Maas. Iuelle came around to score on a double by Daub and move Hurosky to third. After a pitching change, an infield single from junior Ciara Santos (Lansing/Everett) scored Hurosky but Daub stayed at second.

Packer kept the inning alive with a single to plate Daub and move Santos up to second. The second out was recorded, and then senior Brooke Coshow (Niles/Brandywine) hit a single to score Santos and Packer hustled to third base. Maas came through with a single to score Packer. Following another pitching change and sophomore Mary Lamp (Alpena) entering the game as a pinch runner for Coshow at second base, a wild pitch advanced Lamp to third and Maas to second. Off a batted ball from Iuelle, the Adrian first baseman dropped the ball, which allowed Lamp to score the final run of the inning.

The Bulldogs brought the tying run to the plate in their half of the sixth. With one out and runners on first and second, a line drive was caught by Iuelle at shortstop and she tagged the runner who was too far off second base. Olivet had the bases loaded in the top half of the seventh but a double play ended the inning. Adrian went down in order in the bottom half of the inning.

The Comets finished the game with 16 base hits, with every starter collecting at least one. Maas led the way with a 3-for-3 performance. She also scored two runs. Daub had two doubles, scored twice and drove in two runs. Iuelle, Lenard and Santos each recorded two hits. In the circle, freshman Jessica Duell (Ionia) scattered seven hits in seven innings. She gave up the seven runs (two earned), while striking out two.

Olivet returns to the field Saturday for a home doubleheader against Saint Mary's (Ind.) College. First pitch for game one at the Cutler Athletic Complex is 1 p.m.