Baseball team posts doubleheader split at Alma

ALMA, Mich. – The Olivet College baseball team split a pair of games in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) twinbill against Alma College this afternoon at Klenk Park in Alma. After being shutout 7-0 in the opener, the Comets hung on to win the second game, 7-6, in 10 innings.

THE BASICS
Final Scores: Alma 7, Olivet 0; Olivet 7, Alma 6 (10)
Location: Klenk Park; Alma, Mich.
Records: Alma 15-15 overall, 8-10 MIAA; Olivet 9-21 overall, 5-15 MIAA

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE)

• The Scots scored single runs in the first, third and fourth innings before pushing across two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to create the final 7-0 score.

FOR THE COMETS

• Olivet was limited to just three hits – double by freshman Junior Gomez, and singles by senior Colton Dawdy and freshman Logan Sella.
• Senior Aiden Holliday lasted four innings and allowed the first four runs on eight hits to be charged with the loss.
• Junior Travis Petts and freshman Drew Coulter each tossed an inning of relief.

FOR THE SCOTS

• Logan Huff was 3-for-3 with a double, walk, two RBI and run.
• Vann Acker collected three hits, including two doubles and drove in a pair of runs.
• Josh Riggs pitched the complete game, three-hitter to pick-up the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME TWO)

• The Comets used five hits, including four straight to start the game, to score three runs in the top half of the first inning. Driving in runs were sophomore Aaron Gillespie, and freshmen Riley Bennett and Sella.
• Olivet added to its lead in the fifth on an RBI-single by senior Connor Murney.
• Alma scored one run in the sixth inning and two runs in the seventh inning to cut its deficit down to a single run, 4-3.
• The Comets added an insurance run in the top half of the eighth inning. Freshman Ben Compton hit a single, stole second, advanced to third on Gillespie's single and scored on Bennett's sacrifice fly.
• The Scots sent the game to extra innings with two runs in the ninth inning. Alma had the bases loaded with one out. Olivet got out of the jam with a double play.
• The Comets used the momentum to score a run in the 10th inning. Junior Jake Robinson singled to lead off the inning. He advanced to third base on an errant throw by the pitcher on a pick-off attempt. Gillespie lined a single up the middle to score Robinson. Another error by the pitcher allowed Bennett, who reached on a fielder's choice, to come around to score.
• The first two batters reached base for Alma in the home half of the 10th. Back-to-back groundouts moved the runners up, scoring a run. After a pitching change, a fly out ended the game.

FOR THE COMETS

• Olivet tallied 17 hits in the win.
• Gillespie finished the game with five hits (all singles) in six at-bats. He scored a run and drove in two.
• Compton was 3-for-6 with two runs scored.
• Bennett, Robinson and Sella each had two hits.
• Bennett scored two runs and recorded two RBI.
• Sophomore Zac Walter started on the mound and allowed three runs on nine hits but did not factor in the decision.
• Senior Joseph Crosby gave up on earned run on three hits over two and two-thirds innings of relief.
• Senior Zach Oshinsky got the first two outs in the 10th before sophomore Huston Snyder induced the final out for the save.

FOR THE SCOTS

• Six players posted a multi-hit game.
• Huff had two hits and drove in a team-high three runs.
• Acker, Jordan Anstandig, Pete Carravallah, Jaret Koin and Max Trucks notched two hits apiece.
• Five pitchers combined to throw the 10 innings. Carson Kempa was tagged with the loss.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The last Olivet player to have five hits in a game was Stephen Botti against Hiram College on March 11, 2014. Prior to that, it was Beau Locker against Beloit (Wis.) College on March 4, 2003.

UP NEXT

• The Comets face Calvin College in their next MIAA series, which gets under way Thursday with a doubleheader at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. First pitch is at 2 p.m.