Softball team loses twice to Hope in home-opener, 3-0 and 6-4

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College softball team lost both games of a doubleheader to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Hope College in its home-opener this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The Flying Dutch won the first game 3-0 and withstood a seventh-inning comeback by the Comets to win the nightcap, 6-4.

THE BASICS
Final Scores: Hope 3, Olivet 0; Hope 6, Olivet 4
Location: Cutler Athletic Complex; Olivet, Mich.
Records: Hope 18-3 overall, 4-0 MIAA; Olivet 13-9 overall, 0-4 MIAA

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE)

• The Flying Dutch plated the only run they would need in the first inning on a solo home run by Hayley Reitsma. Hope added another run in the second inning and one final run in the sixth inning.
• Olivet did not record a hit and have a base runner until the bottom of sixth inning when sophomore Payton Watson hit a double to right field.

FOR THE COMETS

• Olivet had just two hits in the game – Watson's double and a double by sophomore Kinslea Blouin.
• Sophomore Gracie Boyle was the hard-luck losing pitcher. She allowed the three runs on eight hits in the complete game performance.

FOR THE FLYING DUTCH

• Reitsma finished with two of the eight Hope hits. She scored two runs.
• Jo Cook also recorded two hits.
• Sydney Jones was the winning pitcher after striking out 13 and not walking a batter over the seven innings.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME TWO)

• The Comets took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. Freshman Kayla Blett reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second on a ground out and came around to score on freshman Erin Scanlon's RBI-single.
• Hope scored four runs in the fifth and two runs in the sixth inning to take a 6-1 lead.
• Olivet did not go down quietly in the seventh inning. Scanlon led off with a single. Junior Dominique McKillop had a pinch-hit single to put two runners on base. After a pitching change, sophomore Courtney Willson lined a double to left field to score Scanlon. The left fielder's throw to the plate was off the mark, allowing McKillop to score and advance Willson to third. Junior Andrea Rico hit a sacrifice fly to plate Willson.
• Blouin kept the rally going with an infield single. She was out at second on a fielder's choice off the bat of senior Konnor Geiger. Senior Nikole Kern entered the game to run for Geiger. Sophomore Jazmin Hildebrand deposited a 3-2 pitch to center field to advance Kern to second. Freshman Paige Poulter ran for Hildebrand. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. A strikeout ended the game.

FOR THE COMETS

• Olivet out-hit Hope, 12-8.
• Blouin was 3-for-4.
• Hildebrand and Scanlon each had two hits.
• Sophomore Taylor Shellenberger was the losing pitcher after yielding four runs on five hits over four and one-third innings. Boyle completed the game in the circle.

FOR THE FLYING DUTCH

• At the plate, Shay Pinhey collected two hits and four RBI.
• Reitsma hit a two-run home run.
• In the circle, Katie Singer earned the win. She allowed three earned runs on nine hits over six innings. Tena Baar finished the game in relief, and gave up a run on three hits.

UP NEXT

• Olivet hosts Alma College Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.