Softball team has 1-1 record at NPU Invitational

CHICAGO, Ill. – The Olivet College softball team had a 1-1 record at the second day of the 2019 North Park University Invitational inside the Holmgren Athletic Complex in Chicago, Illinois. After losing the first game 5-3, the Comets bounced back to score a season-high for runs in a 16-11 victory over the host Vikings.

Final Score: Simpson 5, Olivet 3
Location: Holmgren Athletic Complex; Chicago, Ill.
Records: Simpson 13-7 overall, Olivet 8-7 overall

• The Storm scored two runs in the bottom half of the first inning.
• The Comets dented the scoreboard for the first time in the top half of the third inning after sophomore Kayla Blett crossed the plate on squeeze bunt by junior Payton Watson.
• Simpson got that run back in its half of the third and added two insurance runs in the sixth inning.
• Olivet plated one run in the seventh inning on Watson's RBI-single to score freshman Danielle Erickson. The Comets left the bases loaded.

• Batting out of the leadoff spot in the lineup, Watson was 3-for-3 with a triple and two RBI.
• Senior Kinslea Blouin and junior Jazmin Hildebrand each had two hits.
• In the circle, Erickson was tagged with the loss after giving up five runs on eight hits over five innings. Senior Andrea Rico threw a scoreless inning of relief.

• Kayla Reusche went 3-for-3 with two runs.
• Megan Crockett drove in three runs.
• Randie Richmond was the winning pitcher. She allowed one earned run on seven hits over the first six innings.
• Brooke Fonley picked-up the save.

Final Score: Olivet 16, North Park 11
Location: Holmgren Athletic Complex; Chicago, Illinois.
Records: North Park 8-6 overall, Olivet 9-7 overall

• The Comets scored three runs in the first inning. Two of the runs were on a double by freshman Karina Marin.
• After the Vikings pushed across a run in the bottom half of the first, Olivet extended its lead to 6-1 with a three-run second inning. The first Comet run came on a sacrifice fly by Watson and the final two on a two-run home run by Blouin.
• North Park manufactured a run in its half of the second inning.
• Olivet then sent 11 batters to the plate and pushed across six runs in the third inning to make the score 12-2.
• The Vikings responded with their own six-spot in the home half of the third.
• The Comets added a single run in the fourth and three runs in the sixth inning for a 16-8 lead.
• North Park avoided the mercy-rule ending by scoring three runs in its part of the sixth inning.

• Five players posted a multi-hit game.
• Blouin was 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBI.
• Marin, Rico, freshman Dayoni Mahlich and sophomore Erin Scanlon each had two hits.
• Scanlon and Watson each scored three runs.
• As a team, Olivet stole 12 total bases. Junior Courtney Willson had four steals, followed by Mahlich and Scanlon with three each.
• Rico was credited with the pitching win. She was the second pitcher to throw in the game and allowed three runs on eight hits over three and one-third innings.

• Hayley Jackson was a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate. Two of her five hits were doubles.
• Alyssa Aragon scored three runs and drove in three.
• Morgan Fritchman was the losing pitcher after surrendering the first six runs on five hits over an inning and two-thirds.

• The Comets are on the road Wednesday for a non-conference doubleheader against Bluffton (Ohio) University at 3 p.m.