Baseball team splits non-league doubleheader with Rochester

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College baseball team split a non-conference doubleheader against Rochester College this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The Comets lost the first game 11-2 before bouncing back to win the nightcap, 10-4.

In the opener, Rochester took advantage of two Olivet errors to score three unearned runs in the second inning. The Comets got one run back in the third inning when junior Beau Langs (Climax/Climax-Scotts) walked, stole second and scored on an RBI-double by junior Drew Thompson (Canton/Salem). The Warriors plated four more runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to gain an 11-1 lead. Olivet scored its final run in the bottom half of the fifth on a run-scoring double by freshman Christopher Lanyi (Clio).

Offensively, the Comets had only seven hits, including a pair by senior Dylan Betcher (Lansing/Everett). Sophomore David Hernandez (Lansing/Eastern) suffered the pitching loss, as he allowed three runs on four hits in two innings. Junior Jensen Aubry (Grayling) gave up eight runs on five hits in two innings. Sophomore Nick Taylor (Twin Lake/Holton) pitched three scoreless innings of relief.

In the second game, Olivet plated an unearned run in the first inning. After Rochester tied the game at 1-1 with a run in its half of the third inning, the Comets gained the lead back with a single tally in their half of the third. The Warriors forged a 2-2 tie by scoring a run on a sacrifice fly in the top half of the fourth inning.

Olivet then sent all nine batters to the plate and scored five runs in the home half of the fourth. Thompson drew a bases loaded walk to bring in the first run. Lanyi hit a two-run single to bring in two more runs, followed a passed ball to score the fourth run, and junior Peter Panos (Davison) had an infield RBI-single to score the last run.

The Comets put the game away with a three-run sixth inning to make the score 10-2. Sophomore Stephen Botti (Decatur) drove in a pair of runs with a single over the centerfielder's head. Rochester plated two runs in the seventh inning.

At the plate, Olivet recorded 12 hits. Panos went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Lanyi had two hits, drove in two runs and scored three runs. Botti was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Langs scored two runs.

On the mound, sophomore Tom Miller (Martin) earned his first collegiate pitching win in his first-ever start. He allowed the two runs on four hits in four innings. Sophomore Ryan Roeske (Warren/De La Salle) threw a scoreless inning of relief, while junior Collin McCririe (Brighton) gave up two runs on two hits in two innings.

The Comets will pull down the curtain on the 2014 season Friday and Saturday with a four-game Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association series against Hope College. The first two games will be played Friday in Olivet at 2 p.m., while Saturday's final two games will be at Boeve Field in Holland at 1 p.m.