Baseball team swept by Calvin, 6-5 and 12-8
The Olivet College baseball team was swept by Calvin College this afternoon in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader in Olivet. The Knights (13-17, 11-7) rallied to win game one, 6-5, and withstood an Olivet comeback to take game two, 12-8.
The Olivet College baseball team was swept by Calvin College this afternoon in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader in Olivet. The Knights (13-17, 11-7) rallied to win game one, 6-5, and withstood an Olivet comeback to take game two, 12-8.
In the first game, Calvin scored three runs in the top of third inning. The Comets (7-20, 4-14 MIAA) answered with three runs in its half of the third. Junior Nick McIntosh (Petoskey) scored the first run on a suicide squeeze bunt by sophomore Michael Katlin (Howell). Later in the inning, senior Drew Benoit (Climax-Scotts) hit a two-run single to the left-center gap.
The Knights grabbed the lead back with a run in the fourth inning. Olivet responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the fourth. McIntosh led off the inning with a double and came around to score on a single by senior Jonathon Van Son (Macomb/H.W. Notre Dame). Van Son advanced to third base when the Calvin right fielder misplayed the ball. He scored on groundout.
Calvin took the lead for good with two runs in the fifth inning. The Comets were unable to generate any offense, going down in order in each of the last three innings.
At the plate, Olivet had seven hits. McIntosh led the way with two, and five others had one hit a piece. On the mound, junior Brian Schaeffer (Mason) suffered the loss as he allowed six runs on eight hits in seven innings. He struck out five and walked two.
In the nightcap, the Knights scored six runs in the second, four in the fourth and two in the fifth to take a 12-2 lead. The Comet bats came alive in their half of the fifth as they sent 10 batters to the plate and tallied six runs. Olivet left runners on base in both the sixth and seventh innings.
In the game, the Comets used 20 players and five pitchers. McIntosh and junior Chris Shelhart (Rolling Meadows, Ill./St. Viator) each had two hits. McIntosh scored two runs, while junior Sean Howard (Charlotte/Potterville) collected two RBI. Freshman Mark Sherrod (Jackson) started on the mound, pitching two innings and allowing six runs on six base hits. Van Son, sophomore Adam Bassett (Bellevue), freshman Joe Lacey (St. Helen/Roscommon) and junior Jason Miller (Climax/Scotts) all pitched in relief.
Olivet and Calvin will complete the four-game MIAA series tomorrow with a doubleheader in Grand Rapids, beginning at 1 p.m.