Softball team splits two contests at The Spring Games

LEESBURG, Fla. – The Olivet College softball team split a pair of contests today at The Spring Games and inside the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex in Leesburg, Florida. The Comets allowed eight unanswered runs to lose their first game, 8-4, to Western Connecticut State University. Olivet salvaged the split by rallying for a 5-3 win in its second game.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Western Connecticut State 8, Olivet 4
Location: Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex; Leesburg, Fla.
Records: Olivet 5-8 overall, Western Connecticut 6-6 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Comets took a 3-0 lead in the first inning when junior Haley Reed reached on an error, went to second on freshman Payton Watson's single down the left field line. Both came around the score when senior Taylor Smith deposited a 2-1 pitch over the fence in right-center field for a three-run home run.
• Olivet manufactured another run in the fifth inning. Sophomore Nikole Kern led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Reed, advanced to third on Watson's infield hit and scored on Smith's single.
• The Colonials ended the game with eight unanswered runs – five in the fifth and three in the sixth. Only half of the runs were earned.

FOR THE COMETS

• Olivet had 10 hits in the game.
• Watson was 4-for-4 with a run.
• Smith collected two hits and four RBI.
• Freshman Gracie Boyle threw five and one-third innings, yielding seven runs (four earned) on nine hits. She struck out six and walked two.
• Senior Carrie Chamberlain got the final two outs, giving up an unearned run on two hits.

FOR THE COLONIALS

• Western Connecticut finished with 11 hits.
• Sarah Tenke and Kayla Nowak each had three hits.
• Sofia Palacios recorded two RBI.
• Angeline Miller earned the win in relief, surrendering one earned run on seven hits in six innings.

THE BASICS
Fina.l Score: Olivet 5, Lancaster Bible 3
Location: Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex; Leesburg, Fla.
Records: Olivet 6-8 overall, Lancaster Bible 3-6 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Chargers plated a run in both the first and fourth innings.
• The Comets pushed across three runs in the bottom half of the fourth to go ahead 3-2. Freshman Taylor Shellenberger popped up the first pitch she saw but the second baseman dropped the ball. Chamberlain singled to left to put two runners on. Junior Konnor Geiger tripled down the left field line to chase home both runners. Junior Olivia Peraino then lined a sharply hit ball into right field to score Geiger.
• Olivet added two insurance runs in the sixth inning on a two-run homer by Geiger.
• Lancaster scored a run in the seventh and left two runners on base.

FOR THE COMETS

• Chamberlain went the distance in the circle for the win. She gave one earned run on seven hits, while striking out nine. 
• At the plate, Geiger was 3-for-3 with one home run, one triple, two runs scored and four RBI.
• Chamberlain also helped her own cause with two hits.
• Kern and Peraino collected two hits apiece.

FOR THE CHARGERS

• Lancaster Bible recorded seven hits, including three by Julia D'Arrigo.
• Sam Denson had two hits.
• Kelsey Collins was charged with the pitching loss.

UP NEXT

• The Comets wrap-up their Spring Break trip tomorrow with games against Norwich (Vt.) College at 1 p.m. and Bethel (Minn.) College at 3:30 p.m.