Softball team improves to 7-1 with wins over Kenyon and Northland at Gene Cusic Classic

NAPLES, Fla. – The Olivet College softball team improved its record to 7-1 with two wins this morning at the Gene Cusic Classic and in the North Collier Regional Park in Naples, Florida. The Comets defeated Kenyon (Ohio) College, 8-2, and shutout Northland (Wis.) College, 14-0, in five innings.

Olivet wasted no time in taking a lead against Kenyon, as sophomore Larissa Ludwick hit a two-run home run in the top half of the first inning. The Comets stretched their lead to 5-0 with a three-run third inning. With the bases loaded, junior Ashlynn Grubb grounded out to bring home sophomore Haley Reed. Ludwick then hit a sac fly to plate junior Taylor Smith. A fielding error on a batted ball by sophomore Konnor Geiger brought home the third run.

In the bottom half of the third inning, Grubb struck out the side. With the first punch out, she recorded the 300th strikeout of her career. Olivet added another run in the fourth inning when junior Kelsey Scheenks roped a single down the right field line to score Smith.

The Comets concluded their scoring with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Almost like the third inning, Grubb recorded an RBI-groundout to score Reed, and Ludwick hit an RBI-single to plate Smith. Kenyon extended the game to the seventh inning with a two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning. Both teams had a base runner in the seventh, but did not score.

In the win, Olivet recorded 10 total hits. Ludwick, Reed and Scheenks each had two singles. Ludwick drove in a team-best four runs. Smith reached base safely in three of her four plate appearances, and scored three runs. In the circle, Grubb allowed just two hits and struck out six batters over the seven innings pitched.

Against Northland, the Comets jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Grubb roped a double to score Reed, and junior Carrie Chamberlain lined an RBI-single to score Grubb.

Olivet added to its lead with five unearned runs in the second inning. Junior Molly Renfroe reached on an error and went to third on a double by Smith. Reed slapped a single through a drawn-in infield to plate Renfroe and advance Smith to third base. Grubb placed a perfect bunt down between the plate and the pitcher's circle to reach base and also load the bases.

After a second out was recorded, Geiger hit a double to the right-center field gap to score Reed and Smith, and move Grubb to third base. A wild pitch plated Grubb and advanced Geiger to third base. Chamberlain lined an RBI-single to score Geiger with the final run of the second inning.

The Comets doubled their run total with a seven-run third inning. Renfroe walked, stole second base, went to third on a wild pitch and crossed the plate on a squeeze bunt by senior Christine Wood. On the squeeze, the pitcher threw the ball away, allowing Wood to go to second and Smith to advance to third.

Grubb hit the ball to the shortstop, who elected to try to get an out at third base, but Wood slid under the tag. Smith scored on the play. Freshman Kristen Gressley came into the game to run for Grubb. A wild pitch scored Wood from third and advanced Gressley to second base. Gressley then stole third base and came around to score on an RBI-single by junior Devon Mayse.

Freshman Jordan Jones kept the inning going with an infield single to move Mayse to second base. The first out was put in the books but both base runners moved up one base. Freshman Dominique McKillop hit an RBI-single to plate Mayse and advance Jones to third. McKillop took second base when the throw from the outfield was errant. Sophomore Katie Ordiway laced an RBI-single to plate Jones and McKillop with the final runs of the inning.

Olivet did not score any runs in the fourth, and the Lumberjill batters went down 1-2-3- in both the fourth and fifth innings to end game early due to the eight-run mercy rule.

The Comets ended the game with 15 hits, with 10 different players having at least one. Reed and Wood both went 2-for-2 from the two hole in the lineup. Smith, Grubb and Chamberlain also had two hits apiece. Four players – Smith, Reed, Grubb and Renfroe – each scored two runs. Four players – Grubb, Geiger, Chamberlain and Ordiway – each had two RBI.

In the circle, Chamberlain threw only 52 pitches in earning her third win of the season. She scattered two hits and struck out two in five innings of work.

Olivet wraps-up its spring break trip tomorrow with two games at the CenturyLink Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Florida. The Comets will play University of Pittsburgh-Bradford at 9 a.m., and Bethany Lutheran (Minn.) College at approximately 11 a.m.