Softball team ends season with doubleheader split at Hope
In contrasting results, the Olivet College softball team concluded the 2012 season by splitting a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader today against Hope College at Wolters Stadium in Holland. In the opener, senior Rachel Cook (Traverse City/Central) threw a complete game, five-hitter and the Comets won 6-0. In the nightcap, the teams combined for 26 hits and 16 runs, and Hope won, 11-5.
HOLLAND, Mich. – In contrasting results, the Olivet College softball team concluded the 2012 season by splitting a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader today against Hope College at Wolters Stadium in Holland. In the opener, senior Rachel Cook (Traverse City/Central) threw a complete game, five-hitter and the Comets won 6-0. In the nightcap, the teams combined for 26 hits and 16 runs, and Hope won, 11-5.
In the first game, Olivet took a 1-0 lead with a run in the first inning. Junior Alison Iuelle (Kentwood/Kelloggsville) led off the game with a single, went to second on a groundout and scored on an RBI-single from senior Christine Daub (Hudson).
The Comets extended their lead to 4-0 with a three-run third inning. Iuelle singled and reached third base when the Hope second baseman committed an error on a batted ball by sophomore Alyssa Nielsen (Greenville). After the second out was in the books, Daub walked to load the bases. Junior Marlene Packer (Grand Rapids/Creston) came through with a two-run single to score Iuelle and Nielsen, and advance Daub to third. Sophomore Lauren Lenard (Dimondale/Lansing Catholic) capped the inning with an RBI-double to plate Daub.
Olivet scored another run in the fourth inning. Senior Brooke Coshow (Niles/Brandywine) started the inning with a double and went to third on a sacrifice bunt from junior Lindsey Maas (Pinckney). A two-out single from Nielsen scored Coshow.
The Comets closed their scoring with a run in the seventh when Daub and Packer hit back-to-back doubles to lead off the inning. Cook retired the Hope batters 1-2-3 in the bottom half of the seventh to preserve the shutout.
Offensively, Olivet recorded 12 hits. Iuelle led the way with a 3-for-4 performance, while Daub went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Lenard, Nielsen and Packer also had two hits apiece. Packer drove in three runs. In the circle, Cook won her seventh game of the season and lowered her ERA to 2.62.
In the second game, the Flying Dutch scored a run in the top half of the first inning. The Comets answered with a run in their half of the first. Iuelle led off with a single, went to second on groundout and to third on a single by sophomore Terri Hurosky (Nashville/Maple Valley). Daub lined a single to score Iuelle.
Olivet took a 3-1 lead with a pair of runs in the third inning on an RBI-single from Lenard and an RBI-groundout by junior Ciara Santos (Lansing/Everett). Hope plated eight runs, including seven unearned ones, in the top half of the fourth and another unearned run in the fifth to take a 10-3 lead.
After the Comets got two runs back in the bottom half of the fifth, the Flying Dutch responded with their eighth unearned run of the game in the sixth to make the score 11-5. Olivet left the bases loaded in the home half of the sixth.
The Comets finished the game with 12 hits, including a 3-for-4 performance form Daub. Hurosky and Iuelle each recorded two hits. Packer scored two runs, while Santos had two RBI. Freshman Jessica Duell (Ionia) suffered the pitching loss. She gave up the 11 runs (three earned) on 14 hits over the seven innings.
Olivet ends its season with an 11-23 overall record. Daub finishes the year ranked in the top five for a three single-season school records: most times hit-by-pitch (four, tied for first), highest on-base percentage (.495, third) and highest batting average (.415, fifth). Iuelle tied for second with 16 walks this season.