Boyle’s complete games and Blouin's bat help softball team sweep Alma, 7-0 and 5-3

OLIVET, Mich. – Behind complete game pitching performance in both games by sophomore Gracie Boyle, the Olivet College softball team swept a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader against Alma College today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The Comets shutout the Scots in the opener, 7-0, before pushing across two runs in the eighth inning to win the nightcap, 5-3.

THE BASICS
Final Scores: Olivet 7, Alma 0; Olivet 5, Alma 3 (8)
Location: Cutler Athletic Complex; Olivet, Mich.
Records: Alma 18-11 overall, 4-6 MIAA; Olivet 15-9 overall, 2-4 MIAA

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE)

• The Comets scored the only run they would need in the first inning when sophomore Kinslea Blouin deposited a full-count pitch over the fence in left-center field for her sixth home run of the season.
• Blouin was the catalyst behind a three-run fourth inning. On another 3-2 count, she rocketed a pitch to deep right-center field for a leadoff triple. She scored on freshman Kayla Blett's single. Sophomore Jazmin Hildebrand hit a double to left field and Blett came all the way around the score from first base. Hildebrand went to third base on the throw home. After an out was recorded, Hildebrand scampered home on a wild pitch.
• Olivet added three more runs in the fifth. Sophomores Payton Watson and Courtney Willson reached on singles, and then moved up one base each on a wild pitch. Junior Andrea Rico lined a single to score Watson and put runners on the corners. Blouin kept the inning going with an RBI-single to plate Willson. A fielder's choice put runners on the corner bases, again. Blett then executed a perfect suicide squeeze bunt. Alma tried to get Blouin out at the plate, but she dove under the tag and was called safe.

FOR THE COMETS

• Blouin was a double shy of hitting for the cycle. She also scored three runs and drove in two runs.
• Six other Comets each had a base hit.
• Boyle scattered five hits over the seven innings to earn the pitching win.

FOR THE SCOTS

• Mary Brooks had two of the five Alma hits.
• Katie McClure was charged with the pitching loss after giving up five runs on five hits over four innings. Jazmine Hamm threw the final two innings in relief.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME TWO)

• Per MIAA rules, the Scots batted as the home team in the second game and jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a run in the second inning.
• In the fourth, Olivet took a 2-1 lead with a pair of runs on a batted ball that did not get out of the infield. Rico singled and Blouin walked to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt by Hildebrand advanced both runners 60 feet. Following an out, senior Konnor Geiger lined a single off the pitcher's glove. The ball bounced away, allowing the two runners to score.
• The Comets plated another run in the fifth. Freshman Erin Scanlon reached on a fielder's choice and hustled around the bases to score on Watson's double off the fence in left field.
• Alma pushed across one run in the bottom half of the fifth and another in the sixth.
• Olivet went down 1-2-3 in the seventh. The Scots left two runners stranded in their half of the seventh.
• The Comets rallied with two outs to plate two runs in the eighth. Rico and Blouin had back-to-back singles. Blett lined a double to center field to score Rico and advance Blouin to third base. Geiger singled through the left side of the infield to plate Blouin.
• Alma brought the tying run to the dish in the last half of the eighth but failed to score any runs, as a strikeout ended the game.

FOR THE COMETS

• Blouin reached base safely in three of four plate appearances, twice on walks and a third time on a hit.
• Blett hit two doubles.
• Geiger had a pair of hits and drove in three runs.
• Rico also collected two hits. She and Blouin scored two runs apiece.
• Boyle allowed the three runs on 12 hits over the eight innings.

FOR THE SCOTS

• Chelsea Schweiger was 4-for-4 with four singles.
• Madyson Piche had three hits.
• Kaylee Martin notched two hits, including a home run, and two RBI.
• Mary Brooks threw all eight innings, and gave up five runs on nine hits

UP NEXT

• Due to postponements, the Comets are scheduled to travel to play Albion College Tuesday, April 17. First pitch from game one of the doubleheader is 3:30 p.m.