Softball team has 1-1 record in season-opening games at Pioneer Classic

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Olivet College softball team opened its 2018 season today at the Pioneer Classic, hosted by Transylvania (Ky.) University and played on John & Donna Hall Field in Lexington, Kentucky. The Comets lost their opener to Calvin College, 2-1, in eight innings and then bounced back to beat Greenville (Ill.) University, 13-4.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Calvin 2, Olivet 1 (8)
Location: John & Donna Hall Field; Lexington, Ky.
Records: Calvin 3-0 overall, Olivet 0-1 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The game was a pitcher's duel between Olivet sophomore Gracie Boyle and Calvin's Anna Gernant.
• Neither team was able to push across any runs until the eighth inning. The Knights scored twice in the top half of the inning, while the Comets plated their only run in the bottom of the inning.

FOR THE COMETS

• Olivet was limited to just two hits – a single by sophomore Taylor Shellenberger in the fourth inning and RBI-single by sophomore Courtney Willson in the eighth inning.
• Boyle was the hard-luck losing pitcher. She gave up just the one earned run on five hits over the eight innings.

FOR THE KNIGHTS

• Maddie DeGroot notched two of the five Calvin hits.
• Gernant struck out 19 of the 29 batters she faced.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Olivet 13, Greenville 4
Location: John & Donna Hall Field; Lexington, Ky.
Records: Greenville 2-6 overall, Olivet 1-1

HOW IT HAPPENED            

• The Comets sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four runs in the first inning. Sophomores Kinslea Blouin and Jazmin Hildebrand each drove in a run, while sophomore Haley Harty roped a two-run single.
• The Panthers cut their deficit in half with two runs in the home part of the first inning.
• Olivet pushed their lead to 8-2 with four runs in the third inning. With the bases loaded, Harty had an RBI-single to re-load the bases. Willson drew a bases-loaded walk. Sophomore Payton Watson delivered a sacrifice fly to score the third run and an error off a batted ball by Blouin pushed across the final run.
• The Comets added another run on an RBI-single by freshman Danielle McCoy in the sixth inning to make the score 9-2.
• Greenville got that run back in the home half of the sixth inning.
• Olivet pushed across its final three runs in the seventh inning. The first run scored on an error and the last two on an RBI-double by junior Andrea Rico.
• The Panthers capped the scoring with a single tally in the seventh.

FOR THE COMETS

• At the plate, Olivet had 16 total hits.
• Harty went 3-for-4 with three RBI.
• Rico collected two hits, two runs and two RBI in her collegiate debut.
• Hildebrand and Willson also had two hits apiece.
• Blouin and Watson each had two RBI.
• In the circle, sophomore Taylor Shellenberger earned the win. She allowed two unearned runs on five hits over four innings. Boyle completed the game in relief, and gave up one earned run on three hits. They combined to strike out six batters and walk only one.

FOR THE PANTHERS

• Greenville finished with eight hits, including two for Meagan Stone.
• Josie Koontz scored two runs.
• In the circle, Mackenzie Jackson surrendered four runs on four hits in one-third inning to be charged with the loss.

UP NEXT

• Olivet stays in Kentucky tonight to play LaGrange (Ga.) College and the host Pioneers tomorrow at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.