Baseball: Olivet stung by Hornets, 8-2 and 3-1
The Olivet College baseball team was defeated by Kalamazoo College, 8-2 and 3-1, this afternoon at Woodworth Field in Kalamazoo.
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Olivet College baseball team was defeated by Kalamazoo College, 8-2 and 3-1, this afternoon at Woodworth Field in Kalamazoo.
In game one, the Comets took advantage of two Hornet errors and a wild pitch in the fourth inning to score a run. Kalamazoo answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead, 2-1. The Hornets plated two more runs in the fifth for a 4-1 advantage.
Olivet got one run back in the sixth when freshman Colton Dawdy hit a sacrifice fly to score freshman Ryan Hendricks. The Hornets put the game out of reach with a four-spot in their half of the sixth inning.
For the game, the Comets had five hits. Senior Drew Thompson led the way two hits, a double and run scored. Sophomore Austin Cleaver, senior Beau Langs and freshman Luke Spotts each had one hit. Junior Mitch Galloway was the losing pitcher after yielding four earned runs on seven hits in the first five innings.
In game two, Kalamazoo scored the only runs it would need in the first inning. The Hornets used a double, hit batter and infield single to load the bases. Joey Aliotta cleared the bases with a three-run double to left field.
Olivet left runners on base in the third, fourth and fifth innings, including leaving the bases full in the fifth. The Comets got on the scoreboard in the seventh. Langs and senior Nicolai Jump drew walks to start the inning, and Thompson hit a flare to shallow center field to load the bases. After a pitching change, junior Stephen Botti grounded out to bring home Jump. Another ground out ended the game.
At the plate, the Comets finished with seven hits. Jump had two hits in four plate appearances, while Botti, Cleaver, Dawdy, Thompson and sophomore Andrew Dayfield collected one hit apiece. On the mound, senior Collin McCririe started and went five and one-third innings before giving way to senior Jonny Zawacki who recorded the final two outs. McCririe was allowed the three runs on seven hits.
Weather permitting, Olivet will play a nine-inning, non-conference game Tuesday night at Davenport University at 7 p.m. The Comets then play a four-game MIAA series against Albion next weekend. The first two games will be Saturday at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet before wrapping-up Sunday at Frank Joranko Field in Albion. Both doubleheaders have a scheduled 1 p.m. first pitch.