Softball team beats North Park, loses to Simpson at NPU Invitational

CHICAGO, Ill. – The Olivet College softball team lost 3-1 to Simpson (Iowa) College before bouncing back to beat the host Vikings, 7-3, at the 2018 North Park University Invitational and inside the Holmgren Athletic Complex in Chicago, Illinois. With the split, the Comets improve their overall record to 13-5.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Simpson 3, Olivet 1
Location: Holmgren Athletic Complex; Chicago, Illinois.
Records: Simpson 13-4 overall, Olivet 12-5 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Storm scored two runs in the first inning.
• Olivet got run back in the top half of the second inning. Freshman Kayla Blett led off a single down the left field line, advanced to second base on a wild pitch and came around to score on sophomore Taylor Shellenberger's double.
• Simpson manufactured an insurance run in the fourth inning.

FOR THE COMETS

• Olivet out-hit the Storm, 7-6.
• Shellenberger was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
• In the circle, sophomore Gracie Boyle suffered the loss. She went the distance, allowing the three runs (two earned).

FOR THE STORM

• Six players each had a hit, and none of the hits were for extra bases.
• Ashley Allen and Annie Stolte drove in one run apiece.
• Mary Leopold was the winning pitcher.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Olivet 7, North Park 3
Location: Holmgren Athletic Complex; Chicago, Ill.
Records: North Park 5-11 overall, Olivet 13-5 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Comets took a 2-0 in the first inning after Blett hit a two-run single to score sophomore Kinslea Blouin and junior Andrea Rico.
• In the second inning, Olivet loaded the bases via a double and two walks. After the second out was record, Blouin brought all three runners home with a triple off the fence in right-center field. Senior Konnor Geiger then hit an RBI-single to plate Blouin.
• The Vikings scored two runs in the home half of the third inning.
• There was no more scoring until the sixth inning. Rico hit a triple and scored on Blouin's sacrifice fly.
• North Park scored its final run in the seventh inning.

FOR THE COMETS

• Four players – Blett, Blouin, Geiger and Rico – each had a multi-hit game. Blett's hits were two singles. Blouin had a double and triple. Geiger had a single and double. Rico's hits were a single and triple.
• Blouin and Rico scored two runs apiece.
• Blouin drove in four runs.
• Rico picked-up her third pitching win of the season. She gave up the three runs (one earned) on eight hits in the complete game performance.

FOR THE VIKINGS

• The top three batters in the lineup – Ellie Manderfield, Ashley Campos and Hayley Jackson – all went 2-for-4 at the plate. Both hits for Jackson were doubles.
• Joslyn Nelson lasted only an inning and two-thirds to be charged with the loss. She surrendered six runs on seven hits. Morgan Fritchman finished the game in relief and scattered four hits over the five and one-third innings.

UP NEXT

• The Comets travel to play defending Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association champion Trine (Ind.) University next Saturday, March 31. First pitch from game one of the doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m.