Softball team drops season-opening games

BRIGHTON, Mich. – The Olivet College softball team opened its 2020 season early this morning with two games at the Legacy Center. The Comets lost 11-0 to Cleary University and 3-2 to Madonna University.

Final Score: Cleary 11, Olivet 0 (5)
Location: Legacy Center; Brighton, Mich.
Records: Cleary 2-4 overall, Olivet 0-1 overall

• The Cougars scored three runs in the first and second innings and two runs in the fourth inning. Cleary plated three runs in the fifth inning to end the game early due to the eight-run mercy rule.

• Olivet was held to four hits, including two by senior Taylor Shellenberger.
• The lone extra base hit was a double by sophomore Karina Marin.
• Freshman Jessica Barnes was charged with the pitching loss. She allowed the first eighth runs on six hits over three innings.
• Sophomore Danielle Erickson tossed two innings of relief, giving up three runs on four hits.

• Liz Stockert went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
• Keli Jacobs scored twice and drove in two runs.
• Other multi-hit performances were by Susie Bielecki and Megan Robinette.
• Robinette earned the win in the circle, as she scattered the four hits over the complete game performance. She walked one and struck out six.

Final Score: Madonna 3, Olivet 2
Location: Legacy Center; Brighton, Mich.
Records: Madonna 5-1 overall, Olivet 0-2 overall

• The Crusaders pushed across a run in the bottom half of the third inning.
• Olivet answered with two runs in the top half of the fourth inning. Barnes hit a double to the right-center gap, and came around to score on freshman Madison Carroll's two-run home run over the fence in left-center field.
• With the bases loaded in the fifth inning, Madonna used a two-out ground-rule double to score the tying and go-ahead runs.
• The Comets left the tying run stranded on third base in the sixth inning.

• Olivet had four hits.
• In addition to the aforementioned hits in the fourth, Shellenberger and sophomore Kaylee Clothier each had a hit.
• Carroll was tagged with the pitching loss. She yielded the three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts over five innings.
• Erickson threw a scoreless inning of relief.

• Brooklyn Dolloff and Emma Sikina had two hits apiece. One of Dolloff's hits was the two-run double in the fifth inning.
• Madisen Henry started in the circle and face one batter more than the mininum over three innings. Seven of her nine outs recorded were strikeouts.
• Alyssa Fessenden picked-up the win in relief. She threw two and two-thirds innings, giving up the two runs on four hits.
• Ciera Jones was credited with the save after pitching the final inning and one-third.

• Olivet travels to Leesburg, Florida, for 12 games March 6-12 at The Spring Games.