Baseball team beats MacMurray, 4-3

Sophomore Michael Katlin (Charlotte) hit a three-run home run to lift the Olivet College baseball team to a 4-3 win today over MacMurray (Ill.) College at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Florida.

Katlin's homer came in the second inning and scored seniors Nick McIntosh (Petoskey) and Brad O'Bright (North Bay, Ontario/Algonquin). McIntosh reached base on a fielding error by the MacMurray second baseman. O'Bright went to first after being hit by a pitch.

The Comets (3-6) added a run in the sixth inning. Senior Stan Cieslak (Troy/Avondale) singled up the middle, stole second and scored on a single by McIntosh.

At the plate, Cieslak was two-for-four. Five others had a base hit a piece. On the mound, sophomore Adam Bassett (Bellevue) earned the win after pitching eight innings, allowing eight hits and one earned run. He walked one and struck out four batters. Junior Elliot Wilcox (Mattawan) pitched the ninth inning to gain his first save at Olivet.

Olivet is idle until Saturday, March 25, when it hosts Kalamazoo College to open Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play. The doubleheader begins at 1 p.m.