Softball: Clutch hits help Olivet beat Bridgewater State and Minn.-Morris

CAPE CORAL, Fla. – The Olivet College softball team improved to 7-3 on the season with a 5-2 win over Bridgewater State (Mass.) University and 11-2 five-inning victory over University of Minn.-Morris this morning at the Gene Cusic Classic and in the Cape Coral Sports Complex in Cape Coral, Florida.

The Bears took a 2-0 lead on a home run by Jessica Laudati in the second inning and RBI-single by Samantha LoPilato in the top half of the third. The Comets scored their five runs in the bottom half of the third. They manufactured the first run of the inning when freshman Haley Reed singled, stole second base, went to third on senior Ashley Milheim's sacrifice bunt and crossed the plate on sophomore Ashlynn Grubb's single.

Freshman Kris Forest then hit a double to bring home Grubb all the way from first base with the tying run. Sophomore Chantel Johnston came into the game to run for Forest. Sophomore Kelsey Scheenks drew a walk to put two runners on base. After a successful double steal, freshman Madison Spry brought home Johnston and Scheenks with a double into the left-center gap. Freshman Knoor Geiger followed with Olivet's second double of the inning to score Spry with the final run of the inning.

The Comets had one base runner in each of the final three innings, but failed to score any more runs. Bridgewater State was never able to get a clutch hit, as it was 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position in the game and left 14 total runners stranded on the bases.

Olivet finished the game with nine total hits. Reed and Spry each went 2-for-3 at the plate. Spry also had two RBI. In the circle, Grubb won her fourth game of the season in a complete game performance. She struck out eight batters and allowed the two earned runs on 11 hits.

The Comets jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first inning against Minn.-Morris. Like against Bridgewater State, Reed used her speed to get on base with a bunt single to lead off the inning. She stole second base and stayed there on Grubb's single to shallow left field. Following a ground to move the runners up one base, freshman Larissa Ludwick lined a sharply hit single through the left side of the infield, scoring Reed and Grubb.

Olivet put three more runs on the scoreboard in the second inning to take a 5-0 lead. Sophomore Devon Mayse hit a single and was then replaced at first base by Johnston. After getting down 0-2 in the count, junior Maddy Siebenmark saw four straight balls to draw a walk.

Reed's sacrifice bunt moved Johnston to third and Siebenmark to second. A ground out by senior Ashley Milheim scored Johnston. Grubb singled and when the right fielder let the ball roll all the way to the fence, Siebenmark scored and Grubb got to third base on the error. After Forest walked, Ludwick sent the first pitch she saw into left field for an RBI-single to plate Grubb.

The Cougars got two runs back in the third inning to trim their deficit down to three runs at 5-2. Olivet put the game out of reach by sending 12 batters to the plate and scoring six runs in the fourth inning. Three straight singles by Reed, Milheim and Grubb loaded the bases. Forest cleared the bases when she hit a double just out of the reach of the centerfielder's glove.

Ludwick walked and Scheenks singled to re-load the bases. Mayse then walked on five pitches to bring in Forest. After the second out was recorded, Geiger entered the game as a pinch-hitter and also drew a walk to score Ludwick. Milheim reached on an infield single to plate Scheenks with the final run of the inning.Minn.-Morris had a base runner in the fifth but was not able to score any runs, causing the game to end early because of the eight-run mercy rule.

Offensively, the Comets scored a season-high in runs and tied its season-high in hits (12). Grubb was 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Ludwick and Reed both went 2-for-2, with Reed scoring twice. Forest and Ludwick collected three RBI apiece. Freshman Delaney Maki was the winning pitcher, as she allowed the two runs on five hits. She struck out five and walked two batters.

The Comets will play their final two games in Florida tomorrow morning against Wisconsin Lutheran College at 9 a.m. and Eastern Nazarene (Mass.) College at approximately 11 a.m. Both games will be played at the Cape Coral Sports Complex.