Baseball team splits doubleheader with Adrian

The baseball team split a doubleheader with Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Adrian College this afternoon in Olivet. After losing the first game, 5-2, the Fighting Comets (8-6, 1-2 MIAA) bounced back to win the nightcap, 5-2.

In the first game, the Bulldogs (10-7, 2-1 MIAA) scored an unearned run in the first inning. Olivet answered with two runs in its half of the first inning on a run-scoring double by sophomore Chris Shelhart (Rolling Meadows, Ill./St. Viator) and a RBI groundout by sophomore Nick McIntosh (Petoskey). Adrian took a 5-2 lead in the third inning on four consecutive hits, including a grand slam home run by Tim Gates.

For the game, Shelhart and junior Drew Benoit (Climax-Scotts) had two hits apiece. Freshman Adam Bassett (Bellevue) suffered the loss on the mound. He pitched seven innings, allowing 10 hits and four earned runs.

In the nightcap, the Comets jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Shelhart hit a two-run home run. McIntosh drove in a run in the third frame. Adrian made the score 3-2 in the fifth inning. After two outs had been recorded in the Olivet fifth inning, McIntosh and junior Jonathon VanSon (Macomb/Notre Dame, H.W.) drove in a run each.

At the plate, Shelhart was two-for-two. McIntosh and VanSon also had two hits apiece. Sophomore Brian Schaeffer (Mason) started and pitched six solid innings. He gave up five hits and two runs while striking out six. VanSon earned the save.

Olivet is next in action Tuesday, March 29, when it faces Concordia University in a non-league nine-inning game at 3 p.m.