Baseball team broomed by Alma, 5-4 and 6-4

ADRIAN, Mich. – The Olivet College baseball team dropped both games of a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader to Alma College, 5-4 and 6-4, today at Nicolay Field in Adrian.

Olivet scored a run in the first inning of the first game after junior Beau Langs (Climax/Climax-Scotts) hit a single, stole second and scored on a single by junior Drew Thompson (Canton/Salem). The Scots answered with two runs in their half of the first, and later scored a run in the second, fifth and sixth innings to gain a 5-1 lead.

The Comets had the bases loaded with one out in the seventh inning. An RBI-groundout off Langs' bat brought in senior Joel Peters (Troy/Avondale) with the first run, and Thompson followed with a two-run single to plate senior Dylan Betcher (Lansing/Everett) and junior Nikolai Jump (Williamston). A strikeout ended Olivet's rally.

At the dish, the Comets had only six hits. Thompson went 2-for-4 with three RBI. On the mound, freshman Thomas Mudge (Vermontville/Maple Valley) suffered the pitching loss, allowing three runs on three hits in two innings. Sophomore Clark Vinton (Horton/Hanover-Horton) tossed a scoreless inning of relief. Sophomore Mitch Galloway (Coldwater) gave up two unearned runs on two hits in two and two-thirds innings of relief. Sophomore Ryan Roeske (Warren/De La Salle) recorded the final out of the sixth inning.

In the nightcap, Alma plated a run in the first inning. Olivet took a 3-1 lead in the second inning when junior Tom Kort (New Hudson/South Lyon) hit a two-out, bases-loaded clearing triple. The Scots tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning and took the lead for good with a three-run third inning. The Comets got one back in the sixth inning but failed to produce any more runs.

For the game, Olivet out-hit Alma, 8-6. Kort and junior Peter Panos (Davison) each collected two hits. On the mound, sophomore Stephen Botti (Decatur) was charged with the loss, giving up six runs (five earned) on four hits in three innings. Roeske and junior Colin McCririe (Brighton) combined to throw three scoreless innings of relief. Roeske struck out two of the three batters he faced.

Olivet (2-12, 0-6 MIAA) is back in action Friday when it travels to Grand Rapids for a doubleheader at Calvin College, beginning at 2 p.m.