Softball: Comets split doubleheader at Saint Mary’s

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Olivet College softball team split a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader against Saint Mary's (Ind.) College today in Notre Dame, Indiana. In the first game, the Belles scored a run in their last at-bat to win the game, 5-4. In the second game, the Comets plated five runs, including the final two on a two-run single by sophomore Jessica Palumbo, in the bottom half of the seventh for a 10-9 win.

In the opener, the Comets took a 3-0 lead with three runs in the first inning. Sophomore Kelsey Scheenks and sophomore Ashlynn Grubb reached base on back-to-back singles. An infield single off the bat of freshman Kris Forest scored Scheenks, advancing Grubb to third and allowed Forest to take second base. After the second out was recorded, freshman Madison Spry hit a two-run single.

Olivet added to its lead with a single tally in the second inning. With the bases loaded, Forest singled up the middle to score senior Ashley Milheim, who had reached base on a bunt single.

The Belles tied the game in the third inning on a two-run single by Jillian Busfield and a two-run home run by Morgan Raymer. Saint Mary's then used a two-out single by Caitlyn Migawa in the bottom of the seventh to score Jamie Young with the winning run.

For the game, Forest and Scheenks each finished 2-for-4 at the plate. Forest and Spry drove in two runs apiece. In the circle, Grubb was the losing pitcher after giving up five earned runs on nine hits.

After Saint Mary's scored a run in the top half of the first, the Comets took the lead back, 2-1, with a pair of runs in bottom half of the inning. Forest hit an RBI-double to score Scheenks, and Spry grounded out to score Grubb. Olivet made the score 3-1 in the second inning on Grubb's RBI-single down the left field line to score sophomore Devon Mayse.

The Belles got one back in the third inning. The Comets came back with a run in the fifth to make the score 4-2. Saint Mary's tied the game at 4-4 with a pair of runs in the sixth. Grubb hit a solo home run in sixth to give the lead back to Olivet, 5-4. The Belles scored five runs in the top half of the seventh to go up, 9-5.

The Comets answered in a big way in the bottom of the seventh with five runs to win the game, 10-5. Mayse led off with a single and went to second on a ground out. Milheim singled to put runners on the corner bases. Scheenks hit an infield single to score Mayse.

Grubb was intentionally walked to load the bases. Forest hit the ball to the shortstop who threw the ball away. Milheim scored on the play and re-load the bases. Spry was by a pitch to score Scheenks. After a pitching change, Palumbo lined the first pitch she saw into centerfield to plate Grubb with the tying run and Forest with the winning run.

For the game, Olivet had 14 hits, five players posting multi-hit games. Grubb and Palumbo each went 3-for-4, while Mayse, Scheenks and Spry had two hits apiece. Palumbo drove in three runs, and Forest, Grubb and Spry each had two RBI. Grubb scored a game-high three runs. In the circle, freshman Delaney Maki improved to 5-5 on the season after yielding eight earned runs on 12 hits over the seven innings.

Olivet hosts Finlandia University tomorrow for a non-conference doubleheader, starting at 1 p.m.

NOTES: Forest now has 29 RBI this season, which ties Lauren Lenard for the fourth-most in a single-season in school history. The record is 50 by Beth Shunkwiler during the 2005 season, followed by Grubb (32 in 2014) and Alisha Ridsdale (30 in 2007).