Baseball team loses twice to Calvin, 16-8 and 10-3

The Olivet College baseball team lost a pair of games to Calvin College today in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader in Olivet. In the first game, the teams combined for 24 runs and 31 hits, but the Knights came out on top, 16-8. Calvin won the nightcap, 10-3, in eight innings.

Despite the losses, senior Chris Shelhart (Rolling Meadows, Ill./St. Viator) became Olivet's all-time leader in home runs (18) and RBI (104). He passed Chris Ploucha (1992-96) for the home run record and Scott Swearengin (1994-07) for the RBI record. In addition, Shelhart tied Beau Locker's (2001-04) for the career record in doubles (35).

In the first game, Shelhart along with sophomore Cody Goodell (Davison) and senior Nick McIntosh (Petoskey) each had three hits. Shelhart had a single, double and home run. Goodell's hits were all singles, while McIntosh had a double and two singles. Junior Eric Quinn (Fort Gratiot/Port Huron Northern) collected two hits and four RBI. On the mound, senior Brad Dragicevich (Kalamazoo/Central) was charged with the loss, pitching an inning and two-thirds. He surrendered eight runs on nine hits.

In the nightcap, Olivet scored three runs in the second inning. A groundout brought in the first run. With the bases loaded, Shelhart hit a single through the left side of the Calvin infield to score two runs. The Knights tied the score at 3-3 after scoring single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings. The Comets had an opportunity to win the game bottom half of the seventh as they had runners on second and third with one out. Calvin pushed across seven runs (four unearned) runs to gain the victory.

Offensively, Quinn and Shelhart had two hits a piece. Sophomore Scott Purdy (Traverse City/West) and senior Nate Rann (Laingsburg) each had a hit. Goodell, Purdy and Rann scored Olivet's runs. On the mound, senior Elliot Wilcox (Mattawan) started and pitched five and one-third innings. He allowed three runs on 11 hits, while striking out five. Sophomore Steven Oginsky (New Lothrop) was credited with the loss.

The Comets return to the field Tuesday, April 24, when they travel to play Alma College at 2 p.m. The day will begin with the completion of the suspended game from April 13, followed by a doubleheader.