Softball team loses twice in Sunshine State

LEESBURG, Fla. – The Olivet College softball team lost two five-inning games today at the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex in Leesburg, Florida. The Comets were shutout by Susquehanna (Pa.) University, 8-0, before dropping a 12-4 decision to Penn State University Brandywine.

Final Score: Susquehanna (Pa.) 8, Olivet 0 (5)
Location: Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex; Leesburg, Fla.
Records: Susquehanna 5-2 overall, Olivet 4-7 overall

• In the third inning, the River Hawks took advantage of two Comet errors to score five unearned runs.
• Olivet loaded the bases in the fourth inning but failed to push any runs across the plate.
• Susquehanna added three more runs in the top half of the fifth to end the game early due to the mercy rule.

• Olivet was limited to two singles, one each by freshman Erin Brady and sophomore Danielle Erickson.
• In the circle, Erickson suffered the loss after giving eight runs (two earned) on five hits over four plus innings of work. Senior Taylor Shellenberger recorded the final three outs, with two strikeouts.

• Susquehanna had six hits, all singles.
• Ellen Smith was 2-for-4 with four RBI.
• Kasey Bost, Morgan Henry and Ashley Warner each scored two runs.
• Gabby Bubba earned the pitching win after throwing the first four innings. Amanda Seckinger retired the three batters she faced in the fifth inning.

Final Score: Penn State Brandywine (Pa.) 12, Olivet 4 (5)
Location: Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex; Leesburg, Fla.
Records: Penn State Brandywine 4-6 overall, Olivet 4-8 overall

• The Comets took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when sophomore Kaylee Clothier blasted a two-run home run deep over the fence in right field.
• The Lions immediately answered with their own two-run dinger in the home half of the first.
• Penn State Brandywine needed only one hit in the second inning to go ahead 4-2.
• Olivet tied the game at 4-4 in the fourth inning. Senior Jazmin Hildebrand walked and sophomore Karina Marin hit a single to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt by sophomore Amber Trudeau moved them up one base. Junior Paige Poulter blooped a double into shallow right field to score Hildebrand and advance Marin to third. Junior Kayla Blett roped a single into center field to score Marin.
• The Lions then sent 13 batters to the plate and pushed across eight runs in the bottom half of the fourth.

• Olivet finished the game with five hits.
• The lone extra-base hits were Clothier's home run and Poulter's double.
• Three pitchers combined to throw the four innings. They combined to allow the 12 runs (nine earned) on six hits, 11 walks and one hit batter.

• Payton Landis had two hits, including the two-run home run. She drove in four total runs.
• Cara Fabiano tossed all five innings to earn the win in the circle.

• The Comets wrap-up their trip to Florida tomorrow with a game against Meredith (N.C.) College at 10 a.m., followed by a game against Rhodes (Tenn.) College.