Baseball: Olivet swept at Hope, 2-1 and 9-3

HOLLAND, Mich. – The Olivet College baseball team lost both games of a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader to Hope College this afternoon at Boeve Stadium in Holland. The Flying Dutch scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to win game one, 2-1, and then jumped out to a 9-0 lead in game two before winning it, 9-3.

In the opener, Hope plated a run in the bottom half of the first inning. The Comets tied the game in the fourth inning. Senior Beau Langs led off with a triple to right field and then came around to score on senior Jonny Zawacki's ground out.

Olivet left the go-ahead run stranded in scoring position in the seventh inning. The Flying Dutchmen started the home half of the seventh by getting the lead-off batter on base. He went to second on a sacrifice bunt, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a one-out base hit.

At the plate, the Comets were limited to three hits – Lang's triple, a double by senior Drew Thompson and a single by sophomore Andrew Dayfield. Junior Colin Boak was the tough-luck losing pitcher, as he gave up just the two runs on seven hits.

In the nightcap, Hope scored four runs in the first, one in the second and two each in the third and fifth innings to take the commanding 9-0 lead. Olivet dented the scoreboard for the only time in the seventh. Senior Peter Panos led off with a single and went to second when senior Conner Magro walked.

A wild pitch moved both runners up a base before Langs drew a walk to load the bases. Zawacki also walked to bring home Panos with the first run. Following a pitching change, junior Stephen Botti hit an infield single to plate Magro. Sophomore Austin Cleaver beat out a double play attempt to reach on a fielder's choice and score Langs.

At the plate, the Comets had seven hits. The only extra base hit was a double by Zawacki. Botti was 2-for-3. Thompson had a single to raise his hit streak to a season-best 10 games. Freshman Aiden Holliday started on the mound and lasted only two innings, surrendering six earned runs on eight hits. Sophomore Cam Hendrickson threw the final four innings in relief, allowing one earned run on three hits.

Olivet will wrap-up its 2015 season with a doubleheader against Hope tomorrow at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet, starting at 1 p.m. Between games, the Comets will recognize their eight seniors who will be wearing the red & white for the final time.