Baseball team splits doubleheader at Tri-State

The baseball team split a doubleheader this afternoon at Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Tri-State (Ind.) University in Angola, Indiana. The Fighting Comets (10-9, 2-4 MIAA) lost the first game, 9-7. In the nightcap, Olivet hit seven home runs, including three each by sophomores Nick McIntosh (Petoskey) and Chris Shelhart (Rolling Meadows, Ill./St. Viator), and won the game, 21-8.

McIntosh broke the MIAA three-game series records with five home runs and 24 total bases. The previous home run record was four by Pat McGuire from Alma in 2004 and the total bases record was 20 by Cameron Coutcher from Defiance. Shelhart hit four home runs and had 20 total bases to tie the previous record holders.

The Comets had a 4-3 lead after three innings of today's first game. The Thunder (7-11, 3-3 MIAA) then scored six runs in the fourth inning to take a 9-4 lead. Olivet came back with two runs in the fifth and one run in the seventh inning but it was not enough.

In the game, McIntosh had two hits, a double and three-run home run. Shelhart also collected two hits with a solo home run. Freshman Adam Bassett (Bellevue) suffered the loss. He allowed 11 hits and eight runs in three and one-third innings of work.

In the nightcap, the Comets tallied two runs in the first, one in the second, seven in the third, three in fifth, five in the sixth and closed the scoring with three runs in the seventh inning.

In the seven-run third inning, McIntosh, Shelhart and freshman Michael Katlin (Howell) all hit home runs for Olivet. Shelhart hit a grand slam home run in the sixth inning with McIntosh following Shelhart with a solo homer.

Shelhart was four-for-five with five runs scored and 10 RBIs in the nightcap. McIntosh also had four hits and collected six RBIs. Katlin finished the game with four hits, three runs scored and two RBIs. Senior Chris Stambek (Decatur) had two hits and scored four times. Sophomore Evan Williams (Detroit/Notre Dame, H.W.) earned the win after pitching six and one-third innings. He allowed 11 hits, five earned runs and struck out four Tri-State batters. Sophomore Brad Dragicevich (Kalamazoo/Central) came in relief and got the last two outs.

Olivet is idle until Friday-Saturday, April 8-9, when it hosts Alma College in a MIAA series. The teams will play a nine-inning game Friday at 4 p.m., followed by a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.