Softball team sweeps Finlandia, 16-0 and 8-7

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College softball team swept Finlandia University in a non-conference doubleheader for its home-opener at the Cutler Athletic Complex. In the first game, the Comets posted a 16-0 run-rule victory. In the nightcap, Olivet rallied from four runs down and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning for an 8-7 win over the Lions.

Final Scores: Olivet 16, Finlandia 0 (5); Olivet 8, Finlandia 7
Location: Cutler Athletic Complex; Olivet, Michigan
Records: Olivet 2-5 overall, Finlandia 0-18 overall

• The Comets pushed across four runs in the bottom half of the first inning. With runners on the corner bases, junior Erin Brady lined a single to score the first run before junior Jessica Barnes cleared the bases with a three-run home run.
• In the second inning, Olivet pushed across five runs to go up 9-0. Brady stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. Her batted ball was fielded cleanly but the throw to the plate caused the catcher to not touch the base for an out, allowing sophomore Jordan Hartman to score. Barnes then blasted the ball over the fence in centerfield for a grand slam.
• In the third inning, the Comets sent 10 batters to the plate, recorded seven hits, and scored five runs. Tallying at least one RBI in the inning were freshman Summer Smith, Brady, sophomore Katie Lenz and senior Amber Trudeau.
• Olivet capped its scoring with a two-run fourth inning. With the bases loaded, Trudeau roped a single into center field to score two runs.
• The Lions did not score any runs in the fifth inning to force the game to end early due to the eight-run mercy rule.

• Olivet recorded 19 hits in the game. All nine starters had least one hit, with eight posting a multi-hit game.
• Barnes and freshman Meredith Morell were both 3-for-4.
• Registering two hits apiece were Brady, Hartman, Lenz, Smith, Trudeau, and sophomore Emily Keeler.
• Barnes and Brady scored four runs each, while Morell and Smith each crossed the plate three times.
• Barnes drove in seven runs.
• Trudeau had three RBI.
• In the circle, Lenz scattered three hits, while striking out seven in the complete game performance.

• Hope Reinarz tallied two of the three Lion hits.
• The other hit was by Brianna Gitchell.
• Shyann Vernam suffered the pitching loss. She started and gave up 14 runs (12 earned) on 16 hits over the first two innings. Gitchell tossed two innings in relief.

• In the top of first inning, the first five batters reached base and four came around to score for Finlandia.
• The Comets matched them by scoring four runs on five hits in the home half of the first. With two runners in scoring position, Barnes hit a double into the left-center gap to score the first run. Lenz then ripped a two-run double, and Trudeau followed with an RBI-single.
• The second inning started the same for the Lion. The first three batters got on base, with the third hit of the frame driving in two runs.
• Olivet used a two-out rally to push a cross a run in the third inning. Brady led off with a double. Following two outs being recorded, Trudeau roped a single into left-center field to score Brady.
• Finlandia took advantage of a Comet error with a single run in the fourth to extend its lead to 7-5.
• The Comets quickly tied the game in the last half of the fourth. Hartman led off with a single and came around to score on Morell's first collegiate home run.
• Neither team scored a run in the fifth.
• Olivet scored to go-ahead run in the bottom of sixth. Morell started the inning off with a double over the center fielder's head. Smith moved her to third base before a wild pitch scored Morell.
• In the top of seventh, the Lions loaded the bases with nobody out. The first out was recorded at the plate to re-load the bases. Barnes entered the game to pitch. She struck out the next batter swinging. The next batter worked the count to 3-2 before the umpired called a third strike to end the game.

• Olivet tallied 13 hits, with six doubles, six singles and one home run.
• Barnes went 3-for-4 with two doubles and one single.
• Morell had three hits and was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.
• Also posting a multi-hit game were Brady and Trudeau.
• Brady and Morell scored two runs apiece.
• Keeler started in the circle and lasted only two innings. She surrendered six runs on nine hits.
• Lenz picked-up the win, as she allowed one run on four hits over four and one-third innings.
• Barnes earned the save by virtue of getting the final two outs.

• Jaden Matthews was 3-for-5 with two runs.
• Shyann Vernam also had three hits.
• Adriana Rivera-Olmeda had two hits, scored two runs and drove in three runs.
• Gitchell began the game in the circle. She yielded seven runs on 11 hits over five innings.
• Vernam was tagged with the pitching loss after giving up the sixth-inning run.

• Michaela Hamilton earns the first two wins of her head coaching career.
• Barnes' seven RBI in game one ties the most in a game at Olivet since the 2003 season. Brooke Coshow also had seven RBI against Kalamazoo College on April 5, 2012.
• Barnes' two home runs also matches the most in a game since 2003.
• Brady's and Barnes' four runs scored are tied for the third-most in a game since 2003.
• Olivet's 16 runs are the second-most in school history for a home game. Overall, the 16 runs scored are tied for the 15th-most in a game in school history.
• With the sweep, the Comets improve to 9-1 all-time against Finlandia. In those 10 games, Olivet has outscored the Lions 86-23.

• Olivet travels to play Manchester (Ind.) University for two games Thursday afternoon, starting at 3:30 p.m.