Softball team splits season-opening games in Florida
The softball team split its season-opening games today at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., and inside the Cape Coral Sports Complex. In their first game, the Comets beat Eastern Nazarene (Mass.) College, 6-2, and in their second game, they fell to Kenyon (Ohio) College, 13-4
CAPE CORAL, Fla. – The Olivet College softball team split its season-opening games today at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., and inside the Cape Coral Sports Complex. In their first game, the Comets beat Eastern Nazarene (Mass.) College, 6-2, and in their second game, they fell to Kenyon (Ohio) College, 13-4.
Against ENC, Olivet raced out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. After the Lions plated a run in the bottom half of the second inning, the Comets responded with two runs in the top half of the third to take a 4-1 lead. ENC scored one run in the bottom half of the third. Olivet got that run back in the fifth and capped its scoring with a run in the seventh.
Sophomore Jessica Duell (Ionia) went the distance in the circle to earn the win. She gave up one earned run on eight hits and struck out four batters. Offensively, the Comets had eight total hits, with four doubles. Seniors Marlene Packer (Grand Rapids/Creston) and Ciara Santos (Lansing/Everett) each had two hits, while driving in two and three runs, respectively. Packer along with senior Lindsey Maas (Pinckney) and freshman Lorren Springer (White Pigeon/Constantine) scored two runs apiece.
Kenyon scored five runs in the top half of the first before Olivet plated three runs in the bottom half of the inning. The Ladies made the score 9-3 with one run in the second and three runs in the third. The Comets scored once in the fourth. Kenyon closed the scoring with a three-run fourth and one run in the fifth to end early because of the mercy rule.
At the plate, Olivet had seven hits. Maas and Springer each went 2-for-3. Packer reached base safely in all three of her plate appearances. Freshman Chelsea Luedtke (Millington) drove in two runs. Freshman Maddie Siebenmark (Bridgman) was charged with the pitching loss, as she allowed six earned runs on 16 hits.
The Comets will continue play in Florida tomorrow with a 9 a.m. game against Wartburg (Iowa) College and 1 p.m. game against Newbury (Mass.) College.