Baseball team loses 14-1 and 11-1 at Hope

HOLLAND, Mich. – The Olivet College baseball team lost 14-1 and 11-1 to Hope College today at Boeve Stadium in Holland.

In the first game, the Comets scored their only run in the fourth inning when junior Austin Cleaver scampered home on a passed ball. At the plate, Olivet had five hits, all singles by five different players – sophomore Luke Spotts, junior Andrew Dayfield, Cleaver, senior Stephen Botti and freshman Travis Petts.

Senior Colin Boak was charged with the pitching loss after giving up 10 runs (nine earned) on 13 hits in four and one-third innings. Sophomore Austin Hickey threw an inning and two-thirds of relief.

In the nightcap, the Comets manufactured a run in the first inning. Spotts led off the game with a single. A ground out by Dayfield moved him to second, a fly out by Cleaver advanced him to third and a single by Botti brought him home. The Flying Dutchmen took the lead back with a pair of runs in the home half of the first. Olivet did not score any runs for the rest of the game.

The Comets finished the game with six hits, including two for Spotts. Cleaver, Botti, senior Tyler Parish and sophomore Colton Dawdy each had one. The lone extra base hit was a pinch-hit double by Parish. Senior Mitch Galloway suffered the pitching loss after yielding seven earned runs on seven hits in four innings. Senior Ryan Roeske and freshman Tommy Kaliszewski each pitching an inning of relief.

Olivet hosts Rochester College next Tuesday, April 19, for a nine-inning, non-conference game, starting at 3 p.m.