Softball team wins two games to finish Spring Break trip with 8-2 record

LEESBURG, Fla. – The Olivet College softball team defeated Finlandia University, 13-0, and Washington & Jefferson (Pa.) College, 2-1, at The Spring Games today inside the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex in Leesburg, Florida. With the two wins, the Comets finish their Spring Break trip with an 8-2 record.

Final Score: Olivet 13, Finlandia 0 (5)
Location: Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex; Leesburg, Fla.
Records: Finlandia 2-11 overall, Olivet 7-4 overall

• The Comets pushed across two runs in the third inning on RBI-singles by freshman Kaylee Clothier and junior Taylor Shellenberger.
• Olivet then erupted for eight runs on six hits and two Finlandia errors in the fourth inning.
• The Comets added three more runs in the fifth inning to end the game early due to the eight-run mercy rule.

• In the circle, junior Gracie Boyle was credited with the win after throwing a complete game, two-hitter.
• At the plate, Olivet had 14 hits.
• Clothier was 3-for-3 with three RBI.
• Shellenberger and freshman Danielle Erickson each tallied two hits and an RBI.
• Junior Payton Watson hit a two-run, pinch-hit single in her only at-bat.
• Seniors Kinslea Blouin and Andrea Rico scored two runs apiece.

• Kyndell Coffmann and Frannette Fernandez had the two hits for Finlandia.
• Kassandra Avila threw the first three and one-third innings to be charged with the loss. She gave up eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits.

Final Score: Olivet 2, Washington & Jefferson 1
Location: Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex; Leesburg, Fla.
Records: Washington & Jefferson 5-5 overall, Olivet 8-4 overall

• The Presidents took a 1-0 lead with a run in the second inning.
• Olivet had the tying run thrown out at the plate on a suicide squeeze play in the fifth inning.
• The Comets scored their two runs in the home half of the sixth inning. Watson led off with a single, advanced to second on Erickson's sacrifice bunt and went to third on a wild pitch. Blouin walked to put runners on the corners. After Blouin stole second base, Clothier grounded out to the pitcher but Watson hustled down the line to score the tying run and Blouin advanced to third base. Shellenberger lined a single to center field to score Blouin.
• Washington & Jefferson had two runners on base and only one out. A pop out to the catcher was the third out and a strikeout ended the game.

• Boyle went the distance in the circle to earn the win. She yielded the only run on eight hits, while walking two and striking out one.
• Olivet ended the game with six hits, including two for Shellenberger.
• The lone extra-base hit was by Erickson in the second inning.

• Kristen Fuertes suffered the pitching loss after allowing two earned runs over six innings.
• Brooke Lapia and Dana Parker recorded two hits apiece.
• Lapia had a double and the lone RBI.

• With her two wins, Boyle improved to 7-1 in the circle this season. The seven wins also gives her 23 career pitching wins, which moved her into fifth-place all-time at Olivet.

• The Comets return to Michigan tomorrow morning and are back in action Saturday and Sunday, March 23-24, at the North Park (Ill.) University Triangular. Olivet faces the host Vikings and Simpson (Iowa) College both days.