Softball team loses twice at Hope, 2-0 and 11-1

HOLLAND, Mich. – The Olivet College softball team lost both games of a doubleheader to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Hope College this afternoon at Wolters Stadium in Holland. The Flying Dutch won by scores of 2-0 and 11-1.

In game one, Hope plated one run and had another runner thrown out at the plate in the first inning. The Flying Dutch threatened to score another in the second inning, with a runner on third base with only one out but two strikeouts ended the threat.

The Comets' best opportunity to score came in the fourth inning. Juniors Taylor Smith and Ashlynn Grubb had back-to-back singles to put Smith in scoring position with only one out. A pop out followed by a strike out stopped the chance. Hope scored an unearned run in the fifth.

Olivet one more scoring chance in the sixth inning. Sophomore Haley Reed led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Kelsey Scheenks. After a pitching change, a ground out advanced Reed to third before another ground out concluded the inning. The Comets were retired 1-2-3 in the seventh.

For the game, Olivet had just the three aforementioned hits. Grubb was the losing pitcher after giving up the two runs, one earned, on six hits, with four strikeouts over the six innings.

Batting as the visiting team in game two, Hope scored a run in the top half of the first inning. The Flying Dutch used three straight two-out base hits to plate three runs in the second inning. The Flying Dutch busted the game open with seven unearned runs in the third inning.

Grubb broke up the no-hitter with an infield single in the fourth inning. Olivet then broke up the shutout with a run in the fifth inning. Sophomore Konnor Geiger was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Freshman Hannah Hoover entered the game to run for her and came all the way around to score on a double by junior Carrie Chamberlain.

The Comets had only two hits in the five-inning contest. Grubb started in the circle, allowing the first eight runs (four earned) on eight hits in two plus innings. Chamberlain pitched the final three plus innings in relief and yielded three unearned runs on three hits. Both pitchers struck out two batters.

The Comets host Saint Mary's (Ind.) College Saturday afternoon for another MIAA doubleheader. First pitch from game one is slated for 1 p.m.