Softball team suffers 9-5 and 9-1 losses to Manchester

N. MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Olivet College softball team fell in both games of a doubleheader against non-conference foe Manchester (Ind.) University today at the MU Softball Field. The Spartans won the first game, 9-5, and posted a 9-1 run-rule victory in game two.

Final Scores: Manchester 9, Olivet 5; Manchester 9, Olivet 1 (5)
Location: MU Softball Field; N. Manchester, Indiana
Records: Olivet 2-7 overall, Manchester 8-12 overall

• The Spartans used a leadoff double and back-to-back groundouts to score a run in the first inning.
• The Comets had a two-out rally in the third inning to push across four runs. Three straight singles loaded the bases. Junior Jessica Barnes walked to bring in the first run. Sophomore Katie Lenz lined a single up the middle to score two more runs. Senior Amber Trudeau's batted ball was misplayed by the second baseman and the fourth run scampered home.
• Manchester answered with a two-run home run down the left field line in its half of the third inning.
• Olivet pushed its lead to 5-3 in the fourth inning when sophomore Brielle Broderick deposited a 3-1 pitch over the fence in right-center field.
• The Spartans scored twice in the last half of the fourth and three times in the fifth to go up 8-5.
• The Comets brought the tying run to the plate in the sixth inning but were unable to score any runs.
• Manchester capped the scoring with a single run in the sixth.

• Olivet had 11 hits in the game.
• Junior Erin Brady along with Lenz, and freshmen Meredith Morell and Summer Smith all went 2-for-4.
• Lenz drove in two runs.
• In the circle, Lenz was charged with the loss. She gave nine runs (five earned) on 12 hits over the six innings.

• Julianne Gosnell was 3-for-4 with two doubles, one single, two runs scored and one RBI.
• Izzy Dittmar drove in a team-best three runs.
• Brionna Egold collected two RBI.
• Morgan Michael earned the win in the circle. She allowed five runs (four earned) in the complete game performance.

• The Spartans loaded the bases in both the first and second innings.
• After not scoring a run in the first, Manchester took advantage of the situation in the second. The Spartans scored two runs on a sacrifice fly and a double steal.
• Manchester added another run in the third and five runs in the fourth to go up 8-0.
• Freshman Lilly Perron broke up the shutout with a solo home run in the top of fifth.
• The Spartans plated a run in the bottom of fifth to end the game early because of the mercy rule.

• Olivet was held to four hits.
• In addition to Perron's homer, Barnes, Brady and sophomore Emily Keeler each had a hit.
• In the circle, Barnes was tagged with the loss. She surrendered eight runs on seven hits and nine walks over the first three innings.
• Lenz finished the game in relief, giving up the one run on two hits.

• Lainey Bonser had two of the nine Spartan hits. She also drove in three runs.
• Egold tallied two hits.
• Egold, Kodi Douglass and Brianna Morrow each scored two runs.
• Kaitlyn Carr threw the complete game, four-hitter to earn the pitching win.

• The home runs hit by Broderick and Perron were the first of their collegiate career.
• Brady has at least one hit in eight of the nine games this season and is currently riding a seven-game hit streak.
• This season in nine games, the Comets have recorded 14 doubles and six home runs. In 24 games played during the 2021 season, Olivet had 19 doubles and six home runs.

• Olivet opens Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play Saturday when it travels to play Alma College. First pitch from game one of the doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m.