Baseball team splits pitcher’s duels against Hope
The Olivet College baseball team split a pair of pitcher’s duels against Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Hope College today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. In the first game, senior Jake Ball (Cadillac) was on the losing end of a 2-0 loss, while sophomore Colin Boak (Fowlerville) threw a complete game, five-hit 1-0 shutout win in game two.
OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College baseball team split a pair of pitcher's duels against Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Hope College today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. In the first game, senior Jake Ball (Cadillac) was on the losing end of a 2-0 loss, while sophomore Colin Boak (Fowlerville) threw a complete game, five-hit 1-0 shutout win in game two.
In the first game, the Flying Dutch plated a run in the first inning when Tim Bodine singled, stole second, went to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a wild pitch. Hope pushed across an unearned run in the sixth inning. Olivet had two runners in scoring position with nobody out in the home half of the sixth but Hope escaped the inning with two strikeouts and a groundout.
The Comets were held to only five hits, including a double by junior Drew Thompson (Canton/Salem) and four singles by four different players. Ball allowed only the two runs on two hits, while striking out seven and walking one.
In the nightcap, Hope had runners on the corners in the first inning, but Boak got out of the inning with a strikeout. Olivet then scored the only run it would need in the bottom half of the inning. Junior Beau Langs (Climax/Climax-Scotts) led off with a double, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a single by sophomore Stephen Botti (Decatur).
The Flying Dutch left the tying runner stranded in scoring position in three different innings. In the seventh inning, Boak retired the Hope batters 1-2-3, including two on called third strikes.
For the game, the Comets had four hits, one each for four players. Boak needed 101 pitches to gain his third win of the season. He struck out nine and walked one.
Olivet and Hope will complete the four-game series with a doubleheader tomorrow at Boeve Field in Holland at 1 p.m.
NOTE: Between games of today's doubleheader, the Comets recognized their five seniors, Ball, Dylan Betcher (Lansing/Everett), P.J. Costello (DeWitt/Lansing Catholic), Andrew Engle (Greenville) and Joel Peters (Auburn Hills/Avondale), who were in uniform for their final home game.
