Softball team splits home twinbill against North Park

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College softball team split a home twinbill against North Park (Ill.) University today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. After losing a pitcher's duel, 1-0, in game one, the Comets came back to win the nightcap, 3-1.

THE BASICS
Final Scores: North Park 1, Olivet; Olivet 3, North Park 1
Location: Cutler Athletic Complex; Olivet, Mich.
Records: North Park 3-17 overall; Olivet 9-13 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE)

• The Vikings scored the only run in the third inning.
• The Comets left the tying run stranded at third base in the bottom half of the third.
• Olivet had two base runners left on base in both the fifth and seventh innings.

FOR THE COMETS

• Olivet had six hits.
• At the plate, sophomore Nikole Kern went 3-for-3 with three singles.
• Freshman Bekah VanDam was the hard-luck loser in the circle. She gave up the only run on six hits in four and one-third innings.
• Senior Carrie Chamberlain did not allow any base runners in two and two-thirds innings of relief. She struck out three.

FOR THE VIKINGS

• North Park also had six hits, two each for Ellie Manderfeld, Abby Gentile and Kylee Witt. The only extra base hit was a double by Manderfeld.
• Hayley Jackson earned the pitching win.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME TWO)

• Olivet wasted no time in taking a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the first. Freshman Payton Watson led off with a double, went to third when the left fielder dropped a ball hit by senior Taylor Smith and scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman Jazmin Hildebrand.
• The Comets manufactured their second run in the fourth. Freshman Taylor Shellenberger hit a lead-off single up the middle, advanced to second on a sac bunt by junior Dominique McKillop, went to third on freshman Gracie Boyle's single and scored on junior Haley Reed's groundout.
• The Vikings plated their only run in the fifth inning.
• Olivet added an insurance run in the sixth inning when McKillop doubled and came around to score on Boyle's base hit.

FOR THE COMETS

• Olivet finished the game with eight hits.
• Boyle collected a hit in each of her three at-bats.
• McKillop was 2-for-2 with a single and a double.
• In the circle, Boyle earned the win. She allowed one unearned run on five hits in the complete game performance.

FOR THE VIKINGS

• Gentile had two of the five North Park hits.
• Amara Leith suffered the pitching loss.

UP NEXT

• Olivet resumes Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play next Tuesday, April 4, when it welcomes Trine (Ind.) University to the Cutler Athletic Complex for a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader. The Thunder are ranked No. 4 in this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 poll.