Smith’s three home runs lead softball team to two wins in Sunshine State

CLERMONT, Fla. – Senior Taylor Smith hit three home runs to lead the Olivet College softball team to two victories today at The Spring Games and at Hancock Park in Clermont, Florida. The Comets defeated University of Wis.-River Falls, 9-6, and Westfield State (Mass.) College, 4-2.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Olivet 9, Wis.-River Falls 6
Location: Hancock Park; Clermont, Fla.
Records: Olivet 4-7 overall, Wis.-River Falls 2-7 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Comets wasted no time in taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning when freshman Courtney Willson led off the game with a double and came around to score on Smith's first home run.
• Olivet stretched its lead to 3-0 in the third on an RBI-single with the bases loaded by sophomore Dominique McKillop.
• The Falcons scored one run and left two runners stranded in the bottom half of the third.
• The Comets took a 6-1 lead in the fourth. Willson walked to lead off the inning, went to second on a single by freshman Taylor Shellenberger. Smith then deposited a 1-2 pitch over the fence in left field for a three-run homer.
• Wis.-River Falls got two of those runs back in the home half of the fourth.
• Olivet responded with two more runs in the fifth to take an 8-3 lead.
• Junior Konnor Geiger hit her first home run of the season in the sixth to put the Comets ahead 9-3.
• The Falcons plated three runs in their part of the sixth to close the gap to 9-6.
• Neither team scored any runs in the seventh.

FOR THE COMETS

• Olivet recorded a season-high 14 hits in the game.
• Smith went 4-for-5 with two home runs, one double, three runs scored and six RBI.
• Geiger had three hits, with a double and home run.
• Shellenberger collected two hits.
• Freshman Gracie Boyle pitched into the sixth inning to earn the win. She gave up five runs (two earned) on eight hits.
• Senior Carrie Chamberlain completed the game in the circle, allowing one run on three hits.

FOR THE FALCONS

• Lexi Dupee, Ali Krohn and Mady Bunnell all went 2-for-4.
• Ali Murray was 2-for-2.
• Payton Speckel suffered the pitching loss.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Olivet 4, Westfield State 2
Location: Hancock Park; Clermont, Fla.
Records: Olivet 5-7 overall, Westfield State 1-2 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After the Owls scored a run in the top half of the first, the Comets answered with a pair of runs in their half of the inning. Junior Haley Reed walked, followed by a double by Shellenberger to put two runners in scoring position. Chamberlain hit the ball to the second baseman who threw home, but Reed slid under the tag at the plate. On the play, Shellenberger advanced to third. A sacrifice fly off Geiger's bat plated Geiger with the second run.
• Olivet added another run in the second inning when sophomore Nikole Kern hit an RBI-single to score junior Olivia Peraino.
• Westfield State made the score 3-2 with a run in the top half of the third.
• There was no scoring until the fifth inning when Smith hit a solo home run.
• In the sixth inning, the Owls left two runners stranded in scoring position.

FOR THE COMETS

• Olivet had seven hits in the win.
• Chamberlain topped the team with a pair of hits, including a double.
• Freshman Bekah VanDam earned the first pitching win in a Comet uniform. She yielded a pair of earned runs on four hits, while striking out five in four and one-third innings.
• Chamberlain picked-up her second save of the season after throwing two and two-thirds of hitless relief.

FOR THE OWLS

• Westfield State registered four hits, including two for leadoff batter Bri Tortora.
• Michaela Leblanc was charged with the pitching loss.

UP NEXT

• The Comets play two more games tomorrow at the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex in Leesburg, Florida. The first game is against Western Connecticut State at 10:30 a.m., followed by a game versus Lancaster Bible (Pa.) College at 1 p.m.