Baseball: McCririe’s gem helps Comets split 2-0 decisions at Trine

ANGOLA, Ind. – The Olivet College baseball team split a pair of 2-0 decisions in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader against Trine (Ind.) University today at Jannen Field in Angola, Indiana. In the nightcap, senior Collin McCririe pitched a complete game, two-hitter.

The first game was a pitcher's duel for the first four innings, as neither team was able to get a base runner past second base. The Thunder scored their two runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning. The Comets did not record their first hit of the game until the top half of the sixth inning on an infield single by senior Peter Panos. Senior Drew Thompson also had a base hit in the inning before a ground out ended Olivet's scoring threat.

For the game, the aforementioned Comet hits were their only ones in the contest. Junior Mitch Galloway was the hard-luck loser after giving up the two runs, one earned, on four hits in six innings.

In the second game, Olivet scored a run in the second inning. Junior Stephen Botti stroked a double to right field, went to third on a ground out and crossed the plate on a ground out by sophomore Andrew Dayfield.

The Comets added an insurance run in the seventh inning. Senior Jonny Zawacki reached on an infield bunt single, advanced to second on a successful sacrifice bunt by Thompson, went to third on a groundout to second base and scored on a two-out single up the middle by sophomore Austin Cleaver. The Thunder brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh but a fly out ended the game.

Olivet was held to just the already mentioned three hits. McCririe was brilliant on the mound, needing only 72 pitches in the complete game performance. He allowed five hits, struck out only two batters and walked nobody.

The Comets will take a break from MIAA play Wednesday afternoon when they host Rochester College. First pitch from game one of the doubleheader is scheduled for 2 p.m.