Softball team posts 1-1 record on day three of The Spring Games

LEESBURG, Fla. – The Olivet College softball team posted a 1-1 record on day three of The Spring Games and inside the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex in Leesburg, Florida. The Comets lost the first game 2-0 to Marian (Wis.) University. In the second game, junior Kayla Blett hit a walk-off double in the seventh inning to beat Delaware Valley (Pa.) College, 4-3.

Final Score: Marian (Wis.) 2, Olivet 0
Location: Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex; Leesburg, Fla.
Records: Marian 4-2 overall, Olivet 3-4 overall

• The first five innings were a pitcher's duel between Olivet sophomore Danielle Erickson and Marian's Paige Rauhut. The Sabres had appeared to taken a 1-0 lead in the third on a sacrifice fly but the runner was called out for leaving early.
• Marian used back-to-back RBI-doubles to push across two runs in the bottom half of the sixth, and Rauhut retired the Comets 1-2-3 in the top of seventh inning.

• Olivet was held to one hit, a single by senior Taylor Shellenberger to leadoff the game.
• Erickson was the hard-luck losing pitcher, as she allowed two runs on nine hits.

• Three players each had two hits.
• The doubles were by Emalee Depa and Alexa Rodriguez.
• Rauhut threw the complete game, one-hitter. She struck out six and did not walk a batter.

Final Score: Olivet 4, Delaware Valley (Pa.) 3
Location: Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex; Leesburg, Fla.
Records: Delaware Valley 0-4 overall, Olivet 4-4 overall

• The Aggies pushed across a run in the top half of the first inning.
• The Comets manufactured two runs in the second inning. Sophomore Karina Marin walked and freshman Erin Brady singled. Junior Paige Poulter sacrificed the runners over one base. Blett walked to load the bases. After the second out was recorded, senior Payton Watson doubled to the fence in left-center to score Marin and Brady.
• Olivet extended its lead to 3-1 in the fourth inning when freshman Jessica Barnes blasted a pitch over the fence in left field for a home run.
• With two outs, Delaware Valley used a walk and two singles to fill the bases in the sixth inning. Back-to-back wild pitches brought in two runs to tie the game. To prevent further damage with the go-ahead runner at third, Erickson entered the game to pitch. She needed only one pitch to get the final out of the inning.
• The Comets loaded the bases in the home half of the sixth. The Aggies got out of the jam with an out at the plate and pop out to the second baseman.
• Erickson needed only seven pitches to record three outs in the top of seventh.
• To lead-off the seventh, Marin reached first base when the center fielder dropped the ball. Brady executed a sacrifice bunt to move Marin into scoring position. Following a pop fly for the second out, Blett lined a double over the left fielder's head to plate Marin with the winning run.

• Olivet was held to seven hits.
• Blett and Watson were each 2-for-3.
• Marin scored twice.
• Barnes threw the first five and two-thirds innings but did not factor in the decision. She allowed the three runs on seven hits.
• Erickson was credited with the pitching win.

• Caitlyn Pollock, Jessica Stewart and Megan Torrey had two hits apiece.
• Stewart drove in a run.
• Joanna Kondroski pitched the entire game and gave up the four runs (three earned) on seven hits and six walks.

• After a day off tomorrow, on Tuesday, Olivet faces Penn State Brandywine at 11:15 a.m., followed by a game against Defiance (Ohio) College.