Baseball team loses twice to Kalamazoo, 15-7 and 7-2

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College baseball team lost both games of a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader against Kalamazoo College this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. Kalamazoo pounded out 16 hits to win the opener, 15-7, and rallied to win the second game, 7-2.

In game one, the Hornets scored two runs in the first, three runs in the second, five runs in the third and three runs in the fourth to take a 13-0 lead. Olivet dented the scoreboard for the first time in the home half of the fourth inning. Senior Dylan Betcher (Lansing/Everett) led off the inning with a double and scored on an RBI-single by junior Peter Panos (Davison).

Senior Andrew Engle (Greenville) doubled down the left field line to advance Panos to third. Panos then scored on an groundout by junior Tom Kort (New Hudson/South Lyon). Kalamazoo added a single run in the fifth and sixth innings. The Comets sent 11 batters to the plate and scored five runs in the bottom half of the sixth.

Sophomore Blake Burk (Union City) crossed the plate with the first run on a balk. Senior P.J. Costello (DeWitt/Lansing Catholic) followed with a run-scoring single. Freshman Matt Chambers (Clinton Twp./Lake Shore) walked. Sophomore Tyler Parish (Niles) then ripped a two-run double to plate Costello and Chambers. Junior Nikolai Jump (Williamston) drove in Parish for the last run.

For the game, Olivet collected 12 hits, including a 2-for-2 performance by sophomore catcher Zach Kitzmiller (Merrill). Ten other players each recorded a hit. Junior Jimmy Schoof (Merrill) was the losing pitcher after giving up five runs on four hits in an inning and one-third.

In game two, the Comets jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Panos hit a single, stole second base, went to third on a wild pitch and crossed the plate on an RBI-single by junior Troy Pickard (Goshen, Ind.). With one out in the third inning, Olivet loaded the bases. Junior Drew Thompson (Canton/Salem) lined a single up the middle to plate freshman Andrew Dayfield (Brownstown/Woodhaven).

The Hornets turned a double play to escape further damage by the Comets. Kalamazoo used the momentum to tie game with pair of runs in the top half of the fourth inning. The Hornets took the lead for good on a two-run home run by Jack Clark in the fifth. Kalamazoo added two more runs in the inning and capped its scoring with a single run in the sixth. The Comets left two base runners stranded on the bases in the fifth and sixth innings.

Olivet recorded only six hits in the game. Panos went 2-for-3 with a double and run scored. Four others had one hit apiece. Junior Beau Langs (Climax/Climax-Scotts) collecting the only other extra base hit, a double. Sophomore David Hernandez (Lansing/Eastern) was charged with the loss, surrendering five earned runs on six hits in four and one-third innings.

The Comets will play a nine-inning, non-conference game Tuesday, April 22, at Davenport University. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.