Softball: Comets stung by Hornets in MIAA doubleheader

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The University of Olivet softball team was on the losing end of both games to Kalamazoo College for a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader today at the K Softball Field. The Hornets won the first game, 8-0, in six innings before taking the nightcap, 10-3.

• Final Scores: Kalamazoo 8, Olivet 0 (6); Kalamazoo 10, Olivet 3
• Location: K Softball Field; Kalamazoo, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 3-15 overall, 0-6 MIAA; Kalamazoo 9-13 overall, 2-4 MIAA

• The Hornets scored one run in the first and third innings, four runs in the fourth inning, and one run in the fifth and sixth innings to post the 8-0 run-rule victory.

• Freshman Autumn Wallington broke up the no-hitter with a single in the sixth inning.
• Sophomore Mattie Akom also had a hit.
• In the circle, freshman Michelle Michelin suffered the loss, as she gave up the eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits in the complete game performance.

• Per conference rules, Kalamazoo batted first in the second game and pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the first inning.
• Olivet got one run back in the bottom part of the first. Freshman Haylie Wenke led off with a single. She went to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on Akom's single before scoring on freshman Alexis Bond's sacrifice fly.
• The Hornets added to their lead in the second inning when Shelby Bennett hit a solo home run.
• Kalamazoo plated two runs in the third and fourth innings, and one run in the fifth and sixth for a 9-1 lead.
• The Comets prevented the mercy rule ending by plating a run in the last half of the sixth.
• The Hornets capped their scoring with a run in the seventh.
• Olivet used a successful squeeze bunt by senior Maddie Bailey to drive in its final run.

• Olivet tallied four hits – two singles in the first inning, a single by freshman Zola Smith in the fifth and an RBI-double by Bond in the sixth.
• Bond drove in both Comet runs.
• Sophomore Izzy Abalos was charged with the pitching loss. She allowed eight runs (five earned) on 11 hits over the first five innings.
• Freshman Aubrey Starkel pitched two innings of relief, yielding two runs on four hits.

• The Comets are scheduled to play a non-conference doubleheader Friday at Manchester (Ind.) University. The first pitch from game one is at 3:30 p.m.