Softball: Comets split Senior Day doubleheader against Kalamazoo

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College softball team split a doubleheader with Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Kalamazoo College this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The Comets won game one, 4-1, before coming up short in game two, 6-5.

In game one, the Hornets scored a scored a run in the third inning. Olivet answered with two runs in its half of the third. Sophomore Kelsey Scheenks walked and came around to score on sophomore Ashlynn Grubb's double. Grubb went to third on the throw to the plate and then scored on freshman Kris Forest's single.

There was no more scoring until the fifth inning. Grubb hit a single and came around to score on Forest's two-run home run. With those two RBI, Forest passed Grubb for second on the Olivet single-season list for RBI with 34. Kalamazoo brought the tying run to the plate in the sixth but a fly out ended the inning. The Hornets had a base runner in the seventh before a line out double play ended the game.

For the game, Olivet had six hits. Grubb and Forest each went 2-for-3. Grubb scored twice, while Forest drove in three runs. In the circle, Grubb went the distance, allowing the one run on seven hits.

In the nightcap, the Comets took a 1-0 lead with a run in the third inning. Senior Ashley Milheim led off with a single before back-to-back ground outs moved her to third base. Forest hit an RBI-single to plate Milheim.

Kalamazoo took the lead back, 2-1, in the bottom half of the inning on a two-run home run by Maddy Sinkovich. The Hornets stretched their lead to 5-1 in the fourth on a three-run homer by Querubin Dubois.

Olivet cut its deficit to 5-3 with a pair of runs in the fifth. Milheim had a lead-off single, went to second on a bunt by Scheenks and came around to score on Grubb's RBI-single. Forest lined a single to move Grubb to second. After a fielder's choice out at second, an error by the Kalamazoo third baseman allowed Grubb to score. The Hornets got one back in the home half of the fifth on a two-out RBI-single by Erin DuRoss.

The Comets made the score 6-5 with two runs in the sixth. Sophomore Maddie Carr hit a lead-off single. Sophomore Christine Wood came into the game to run for Carr. Milheim stroked a single to move Wood to second and when the left fielder misplayed the ball, both runners moved up one base. Grubb lined a double in the left-center field gap to score Wood and Milheim. Forest walked to put the go-ahead run on base but a groundout stopped Olivet's scoring chance.

Playing in her final home game, Milheim was 4-for-4 with four singles and three runs scored. Grubb had two hits with three RBI. Forest was officially 2-for-2 with two hits and two walks. Grubb suffered the pitching loss after allowing the six runs on 10 hits.

The Comets continue MIAA play Monday with a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader at Adrian College.