Softball team splits season-opening games at Gene Cusic Classic

NAPLES, Fla. – The Olivet College softball team split its season-opening games this morning at the Gene Cusic Classic and inside the North Collier Regional Park in Naples, Florida. In their first game, the Comets defeated Marian (Wis.) University, 2-1. Olivet then fell to Eastern Nazarene (Mass.) College, 3-1.

The Comets scored a run in their first at-bat against Marian. Sophomore Haley Reed reached base when the pitcher threw the ball away. The error allowed her to take second base. Junior Kelsey Scheenks then singled into right field to advance Reed to third base. Junior Taylor Smith singled up the middle of the field to plate Reed.

The Sabres tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the third inning. Olivet scored what proved to be the winning run in the bottom half of the third. Scheenks singled into the right-center field gap, and then hustled around the bases to score on a double to the left-center ally by Smith. Marian did not get any runners past first base in the remaining three innings.

For the game, Scheenks was 2-for-2. Smith and sophomore Konnor Geiger were both 2-for-3. In the circle, junior Ashlynn Grubb earned the win. She scattered five hits, struck out seven and did not walk a batter in the complete game performance.

In the second game, the Lions scored their three runs in the third inning. Olivet got one run back in the fourth inning. Geiger lined the first pitch she saw into deep center field. Freshman Kristen Gressley came into the game to run for Geiger. Sophomore Larissa Ludwick hit a chopper off the plate for an infield single and advance Gressley to third. Junior Devon Mayse followed with a double to plate Gressley. Ludwick was thrown out at the plate for the third out of the inning.

The Comets had the bases loaded in the sixth inning. Olivet also had the tying run on base in the seventh inning. Both times, Eastern Nazarene escaped the damaged without allowing any runs.

At the plate, the Comets out-hit the Lions, 9-5. Ludwick was 2-for-2, while Geiger and Smith also had two hits apiece. Junior Carrie Chamberlain was the tough-luck losing pitcher, as she gave up the three runs over the seven innings. She had four strikeouts.

Olivet is back in action tomorrow afternoon against Wilmington (Ohio) College at 1 p.m., followed immediately by a game against Bridgewater State (Mass.) University. The games will be played at the CenturyLink Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Florida.