Softball team wins two games at Kalamazoo, 7-3 and 6-4

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Olivet College softball team won both games of a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader at Kalamazoo College this afternoon at K College Softball Field in Kalamazoo. The Comets rallied to win the opener, 7-3, and hung on to win the nightcap, 6-4.

Final Score: Olivet 7, Kalamazoo 3; Olivet 6, Kalamazoo 4
Location: K College Softball Field; Kalamazoo, Mich.
Records: Kalamazoo 12-15 overall, 4-6 MIAA; Olivet 19-13 overall, 8-6 MIAA

• The Comets used a two-out rally to score one run in the first inning. Senior Kinslea Blouin walked, stole second base and crossed the plate on junior Jazmin Hildebrand's double.
• The Hornets plated one run in the second, third and fourth inning on RBI-doubles by Andrea MacMichael, Nina Szalkiewicz and Anna Majewski.
• Olivet came back to tie the game with two runs in the fifth inning. Sophomore Erin Scanlon led off with a single, advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt and came around to score on senior Andrea Rico's double down the left field line. Rico then hustled around the bases to score on Blouin's double off the fence in left-center field.
• The Comets took a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning. Scanlon hit a double down the right field line and came around to score on a pinch-hit single by sophomore Paige Poulter. Poulter went to second on the throw to the plate. Junior Payton Watson re-entered the game to run for Poulter. Rico lined a single up the middle to move Watson to third base. After a passed ball helped Rico advance to second base. Freshman Dayoni Mahlich came into the game to run for Rico. After a wild pitch scored Watson and moved Mahlich to third base, Blouin hit a double to score Mahlich. Blouin went to third base on a wild pitch and then stole home for the fourth run of the inning.

• Olivet totaled 12 hits in the game.
• Blouin reached base safely in all four of her plate appearances. She walked once, and hit two doubles and a single. Blouin also drove in two runs, scored two runs and stole two bases.
• From the ninth spot in the lineup, Scanlon was 3-for-3 with two runs scored.
• Hildebrand and Rico each had two hits, a double and a single, and an RBI.
• Junior Gracie Boyle started in the circle but did not factor in the decision after giving up three runs on eight hits over the three and two-thirds innings.
• Rico earned the win in relief after allowing four hits over the final three and one-third innings.

• Szalkiewicz went 3-for-4.
• Majewski and Keelin McManus each recorded two hits.
• Sammi Luzadre was charged with the pitching loss after yielding four runs on eight hits over six innings.
• McManus recorded the final three outs but gave up three runs on four hits.

• The Comets seized a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Blouin hit a two-double over the left-fielder's head and later scored on Hildebrand's double to the left-center alley.
• Olivet added to its lead in the second when Watson poked a double into shallow left field to score two runs. Junior Taylor Shellenberger started the rally with a double, followed by a sacrifice bunt and then a double by Mahlich to put two runners in scoring position.
• With some help from the Hornets, the Comets increased their advantage to 4-0 in the fourth inning. Sophomore Kayla Blett singled through the left side of the infield. She came all the way around to score when Mahlich's bunt was thrown into right field by the Kalamazoo pitcher.
• Olivet pushed across two more runs in the fifth inning to make the score 6-0. The second run was driven in on a double down the left field line by Shellenberger.
• Kalamazoo scored four runs in the top half of the sixth inning to cut its deficit down to two runs, 6-4.
• The Hornets were retired 1-2-3 in the seventh inning.

• Olivet recorded 11 hits, with every starter tallying at least one hit.
• Freshman Kaylee Clothier reached safely three times, twice on hits and a third time on a walk.
• Shellenberger also had two hits, including a double, and an RBI.
• Blouin scored two runs.
• In the circle, Rico picked-up her fourth win of the season. She gave up all four runs (three earned) on seven hits over the first five and one-third innings.
• Shellenberger tossed the final inning and two-thirds to earn her first collegiate save.

• Ashley Schiffer registered three of the seven Kalamazoo hits.
• McManus drove in two runs.
• In the circle, McManus suffered the loss. She allowed the six runs (five earned) on 11 hits and two walks.

• Olivet currently sits in fifth-place in the MIAA standings with an 8-6 record. The Comets are the lone school who have only one league doubleheader left to play. Trine is first at 10-2, followed by Calvin at 8-2. Hope is 5-3, and Saint Mary's has a 6-4 record.
• With the two wins, Olivet has a 19-13 overall record to surpass last year's win total of 18 for the most in head coach Darrick Brown's tenure at Olivet.
• With her 12 fielding assists in today's doubleheader, Blouin has broken the Olivet single-season record. The previous record was 92 by Taylor Smith in 2017. At the plate, Blouin is now tied for the second-most runs scored.

• The Comets wrap-up their regular season next Saturday, April 27, with a doubleheader at Calvin College. First pitch from game one at the Gainey Athletic Complex in Grand Rapids is at 1 p.m.