Baseball: Olivet overtaken by Calvin, 14-7

OLIVET, Mich. – The University of Olivet baseball team wrapped-up its first Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) series with a 14-7 loss to Calvin University today at the Cutler Athletic Complex.

• Final Scores: Calvin 14, Olivet 7
• Location: Cutler Athletic Complex; Olivet, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 6-14 overall, 0-3 MIAA; Calvin 12-9 overall, 3-0 MIAA

• The Knights scored a run in the top of the first inning.
• The Comets answered with two runs in their half of the first. Sophomore Nate Droste reached on a fielder's choice and went to second on freshman Austin Alflen's single. Both runners came around to score when senior Gabriel Kirck roped a double down the right field line.
• Olivet plated two runs in the second inning to increase its lead to 4-1.
• Calvin pushed across one run in both the third and fourth innings before scoring five runs in the fifth to take a 7-4 lead.
• The Comets fought back to score three runs in the sixth inning to tie the game. With runners on the corners, Alflen singled home sophomore Mason Cook with the first run and moved Droste to third. After a pitching change, Alflen stole second base to put two runners in scoring position. Kirck grounded out to score Droste and advance Alflen to third base. Junior Blake Hawkins hit a ball to shallow center field to plate Alflen with the tying run.
• The Knights ended the game by scoring seven unanswered runs – four in the seventh and three in the eighth – to pull out the 14-7 win.

• Olivet recorded 14 hits.
• From the leadoff spot in the lineup, senior Matthew Fennell was 3-for-4.
• Droste had two hits and scored three runs.
• Also recording two hits were Alflen, Kirck and freshmen Jack Friesen and Brody Lehman.
• Kirck drove in a team-best three runs.
• Sophomore Charlie Quilliam started on the mound but did not factor in the decision. He allowed seven runs (three earned) on seven hits over the first four and two-thirds innings, while striking out five.
• Sophomore Braden Abbott was tagged with the loss after giving up four runs on six hits.
• Sophomore Antonio Biggs also pitched in relief, yielding three runs on five hits over the final two innings.

• The Comets host Albion College Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m.