Softball team defeats Norwich and Bethel to end Spring Break trip with 7-3 record

LEESBURG, Fla. – The Olivet College softball team ended its Spring Break trip to The Spring Games with a 4-3 win over Norwich (Vt.) University and 5-0 shutout victory over Bethel (Minn.) University today at the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex in Leesburg, Florida. With the wins, the Comets finish their trip to the Sunshine State with a 7-3 record to improve their overall record to 8-8.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Olivet 4, Norwich 3
Location: Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex; Leesburg, Fla.
Records: Olivet 7-8 overall, Norwich 0-6 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cadets used small ball to scratch across a run in the bottom half of the second inning.
• Norwich plated an unearned run in the fourth inning.
• The Comets took a 3-2 lead after sophomore Nikole Kern hit an RBI-single and senior Taylor Smith roped a two-run single in the fifth inning.
• Senior Carrie Chamberlain helped her own cause by ripping a solo home run in the seventh inning.
• The Cadets scored an unearned run in the bottom half of the seventh to cap the game's scoring.

FOR THE COMETS

• At the plate, Olivet out-hit Norwich, 9-4.
• Kern was a perfect 3-for-3 with three singles with one run scored and one RBI.
• Six other players each had a hit. The only extra base hit was a double by junior Olivia Peraino.
• Freshman Bekah VanDam started the in the circle and allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits, while striking out five in three and one-third innings.
• Chamberlain was the winning pitcher after throwing two and two-thirds of scoreless relief.
• Freshman Gracie Boyle pitched the seventh inning to earn the save.

FOR THE CADETS

• Sarah Perry had two of the four Norwich hits.
• Emily Oliver suffered the pitching loss. She allowed three earned runs on four hits in an inning.
• Rachel Johnson struck out 11 batters in pitching a total of five and one-third innings.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Olivet 5, Bethel 0
Location: Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex; Leesburg, Fla.
Records: Olivet 8-8 overall, Bethel 4-6 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the top half of the first inning, the Royals put two runners in scoring position with nobody out before Boyle struck out three straight batters to end the threat.
• The Comets used a two-out rally to push across three runs in the second inning. Sophomore Dominique McKillop drove in the first two runs. McKillop then scored on an RBI-single by junior Haley Reed.
• Olivet manufactured a pair of runs in the fifth inning. A throwing error off a batted ball by Kern let Reed scored first run. Smith lined a single into left-center field to score Kern with the second run.

FOR THE COMETS

• Boyle threw the complete game shutout win in the circle. She gave up seven hits, did not walk a batter and struck out seven. 
• Peraino and Reed both had two hits and scored a run.
• McKillop collected two RBI.

FOR THE ROYALS

• Seven different players each registered a base hit. Clare Thompson had the lone extra base hit, a double to lead off the third inning.
• Anna Nichols suffered the pitching loss.

UP NEXT

• The Comets return to Michigan tomorrow and are scheduled to make their northern debut next Wednesday, March 22, with a doubleheader at Defiance (Ohio) College. First pitch from game one is slated for 3:30 p.m.