Softball team sweeps Kalamazoo, 8-2 and 2-1, to claim third seed in MIAA Tournament

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Olivet College softball team swept a doubleheader, 8-2 and 2-1, from Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Kalamazoo College today in Kalamazoo. With the two wins and combined with Hope College sweeping Calvin College, the Comets claim the third seed in the 2014 MIAA Tournament and improve to 24-9 on the season to tie the single-season school wins record.

In today's first game, Olivet scored a run in the first inning after junior Ashley Milheim (Eaton Rapids) walked, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Lauren Lenard (Dimondale/Lansing Catholic) and scored on a double by freshman Ashlynn Grubb (LaGrange, Ind./Lakeland).

The Comets added another run in the second inning in similar fashion. Sophomore Maddy Siebenmark (Bridgman) walked, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Jessica Palumbo (Oxford) and crossed the plate on a single up the middle by freshman Devon Mayse (Adrian/Madison).

Olivet pushed across two more runs in the third inning. Lenard walked and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Alyssa Nielsen (Greenville). Grubb followed with a single but moved up to second on a throw, while Lenard went to third on the single. Senior Terri Hurosky (Nashville/Maple Valley) brought home both runners with a double to center field.

After the Hornets scored in the fourth inning, the Comets got that run back in the sixth inning. With Hurosky on third and Palumbo on first, Kalamazoo's catcher had a throwing error on a double steal attempt, allowing Hurosky to score.

The Hornets answered with a run in their half of the sixth. Olivet put the game away with a three spot in the seventh inning. Milheim led off the frame with a single and went to second on a fielding error. Lenard drove her with a single and she took second base on the throw to the plate. Nielsen sacrificed Lenard to third base. After a pitching change, Grubb and Hurosky hit back-to-back RBI-doubles.

For the game, the Comets had 10 hits. Hurosky tied a single-game school record with three doubles, while driving in three runs. Grubb also had three hits, including two doubles. Grubb picked-up the pitching win, as she allowed the two earned runs on five hits, while striking out eight in six innings. Freshman Morgan Stratton (Grand Blanc) threw a scoreless inning of relief.

For the most part, the nightcap was a pitcher's duel. Olivet got on the scoreboard first in the second inning. Siebenmark struck out but reached first base when the ball got away from the catcher. Palumbo followed with an infield single. A groundout moved both runners up a base and after the second out was recorded, freshman Kelsey Scheenks (Bronson) hit an RBI-single up the middle to plate Siebenmark.

Kalamazoo tied the game in the third inning. The score stayed 1-1 until the bottom half of the sixth inning. Grubb lined a triple down the right field line to start the inning. Siebenmark grounded out to second base to score Grubb. The Comets left the bases loaded in the sixth inning. The Hornet batters went down 1-2-3 in the seventh inning.

Offensively, Olivet was held to five hits. The only extra base hits were a double by Hurosky and Grubb's triple. Stratton started the game in the circle and gave up one run on five hits in four innings. Grubb earned the win, throwing three scoreless innings of relief. With the win, Grubb has a 16-7 record, with the 16 wins being the most in school history for a single-season.

The Comets will rest tonight and be back on the field tomorrow afternoon when they host Oberlin (Ohio) College for a non-conference doubleheader, starting at 2 p.m.

NOTES: The MIAA Tournament will be next Thursday and Friday, May 1-2, at top-seed Trine (Ind.) University. Olivet will face No. 2 seed in the semifinals Thursday morning at 11 a.m. Trine will play No. 4 seed Calvin in the other first round game at 1 p.m. The two first round losers will face each other at 3:30 p.m., while the two winners will play each other at 5:30 p.m. Grubb's 16 pitching wins surpasses Jessie Davenport's 15 wins during the 2000 season.