Baseball: Comets split doubleheader with Alma – win 5-2 and lose, 4-3
For a second straight day, the Olivet College baseball team has split a MIAA doubleheader against Alma College.
ADRIAN, Mich. – For a second straight day, the Olivet College baseball team has split a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader against Alma College. In today's first game at Nicolay Field in Adrian, the Comets won 5-2, behind a solid pitching performance from junior Collin McCririe. The Scots came back to win the nightcap, 4-3.
In the opener, Olivet scored three runs in the top half of the first. Senior Beau Langs reached on a fielder's choice, stole second, went to third on a passed ball and scored on a fielder's choice by sophomore Zach Kitzmiller. After a groundout moved senior Drew Thompson to third and Kitzmiller to second, senior Jonny Zawacki lined a two-run single to score both runners.
Alma got one run back in the third. The Comets answered with a single run in the fourth inning and another single tally in the seventh. The Scots mounted a comeback in the home half of the seventh inning. Alma scored one run and brought the tying run to the plate before the final out was recorded.
Freshman Luke Spotts went 3-for-4 at the plate, with three singles from the leadoff spot in the lineup. Zawacki and junior Stephen Botti each collected two hits. On the mound, McCririe allowed the two earned runs on six hits in six and two-thirds innings for the win. Zawacki got the final out for his second save of the season.
In the nightcap, Olivet plated a run in the first inning. Spotts drew a leadoff walk, stole second base and scored on back-to-back groundouts, the later by Thompson. The Scots pushed across three runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 3-1 lead. Alma scored its fourth run in the fourth inning.
The Comets got two runs back in the sixth inning. Thompson singled and moved to second on a walk to Kitzmiller. Botti followed with a single up the middle to plate Thompson. After Zawacki hit a single to load the bases, junior Ryan Hendricks hit the ball to the shortstop who got the out at second base but was not able to turn the double play, scoring Kitzmiller. Olivet left the tying run stranded in scoring position in the seventh.
At the plate, the Comets out-hit the Scots, 6-4. Zawacki led the way with two hits in three plate appearances. Four others each had one hit. Junior Jarred Scheese was charged with the pitching loss after giving up four runs (two earned) on three hits in four innings. He struck out three and walked nobody. Zawacki and freshman Aiden Holliday both threw a scoreless inning of relief.
The Comets continue MIAA play next Saturday and Sunday, March 28-29, against defending MIAA champion Adrian College. The first two games will be played Saturday in Adrian before the final two games will be played Sunday at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. Both doubleheaders will start at 1 p.m.