Softball team defeats Rockford and Dominican in Sunshine State

NAPLES, Fla. – The Olivet College softball team won two games in contrasting styles today at the Gene Cusic and inside the North Collier Regional Park in Naples, Florida. In their first game, the Comets posted season-highs for hits (14) and runs in a 14-1 mercy-rule win over Rockford (Ill.) University. In its second game, Olivet had a season-low four hits in a 2-1 victory over Dominican (Ill.) University.

Against Rockford, the Comets sent 12 batters to the plate and scored eight runs in the second inning. Junior Devon Mayse hit an RBI-double to score sophomore Konnor Geiger, who walked to lead off the inning, with the first run. The next two runs were scored on a Regent throwing error to plate when the bases were loaded. Junior Kelsey Scheenks brought home the fourth run on a squeeze bunt.

Sophomore Larissa Ludwick roped an RBI-single to score Scheenks. Batting for the second time in the inning, Geiger blasted a 3-2 pitch over the fence in left-center field for a two-run home run to cap the scoring in the second.

Olivet scratched across a pair of runs in the third inning to go up 10-0. Sophomore Haley Reed reached on an infield single, stole second and crossed the dish on a double by junior Taylor Smith. Smith went to third on the throw to the plate on her hit and then scored on a groundout by Scheenks.

Rockford took advantage of two Comet fielding errors to plate an unearned run in the top half of the fourth. Olivet ended the game's scoring with four runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Ludwick doubled to start the inning. Sophomore Olivia Peraino came into the game to run for Ludwick. Sophomore Katie Ordiway lined a pinch-hit single to put runners on the corners.

Ordiway stole second base to put two runners in scoring position. Junior Carrie Chamberlain hit a sacrifice fly to score Peraino and moved Ordiway to third. Freshman Jordan Jones reached on an infield single, scoring Ordiway. Senior Sydney Tharp laced a single to put another run on base. After an out at third base, Smith lined a single to the outfielder. On the play, the right fielder had the ball roll through her legs, allowing the final two base runners to score.

At the plate, Reed was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Ludwick and Tharp were both 2-for-3, and Smith also had two hits to go along with two runs scored. Geiger and Scheenks drove in two runs apiece. Chamberlain was brilliant in the circle, surrendering just one hit in the complete game performance.

Dominican scored its only run in the top half of the third inning on a double steal. The Comets manufactured the tying run in the bottom half of the third. Tharp walked, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from freshman Hannah Hoover, went to third on an infield bunt single by Reed and scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Smith.

Olivet pushed across what proved to be the game-winning run in the fourth inning. Ludwick reached first base on a fielder's choice, and a wild pitch moved her to second base. Peraino was inserted into the lineup to run for Ludwick. After a walk to freshman Dominique McKillop, Tharp hit a double to score Peraino. The Stars had only one base runner in the final four innings of the game.

At the plate, four different Comets – junior Ashlynn Grubb, Ludwick, Tharp and Reed – each had one hit. Grubb picked-up her third straight pitching win, allowing four hits over the seven innings. She struck out six batters and did not walk anyone. With the win, Grubb moved into third-place all-time at Olivet in victories with 32.

Olivet plays two games tomorrow morning in Naples. Game one is against Kenyon (Ohio) College at 9 a.m., followed by game two versus Northland (Wis.) College. The Comets are 3-1 all-time against Kenyon, and 3-0 versus Northland.