Baseball team sweeps doubleheader from Kalamazoo, 8-4 and 7-1

The Olivet College baseball team used two strong pitching performances and timely hitting to sweep a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader from Kalamazoo College, 8-4 and 7-1, this afternoon in Olivet.

In the first game, Kalamazoo (10-4, 2-2 MIAA) scored a run in the first inning. The Comets (5-8, 2-2 MIAA) answered with three runs in their half of the first. Senior Drew Benoit (Climax/Climax-Scotts) was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. He moved to third base on a double by senior Stan Cieslak (Troy/Avondale).

Junior Chris Shelhart (Rolling Meadows, Ill./St. Viator) walked to load the bases. Junior Nick McIntosh (Petoskey) drew a walk to score Benoit and move Cieslak to third base. Senior Jonathon Van Son (Macomb/H.W. Notre Dame) hit a sacrifice fly to score Cieslak. Freshman Scott Purdy (Traverse City/West) drove in Shelhart with the third run of the inning.

Olivet added four more runs in the fifth inning. Benoit hit a double and scored on a triple by Cieslak. Shelhart ripped a single to plate Cieslak. An error by the Kalamazoo centerfielder allowed Van Son to reach second and score Shelhart. A single by Purdy plated Van Son. Kalamazoo scored three runs in the sixth inning. The Comets closed the scoring with a run in the bottom half of the sixth.

For the game, Cieslak and Purdy each finished with two hits. Benoit scored three runs. McIntosh, Purdy and Van Son collected two RBI a piece. On the mound, junior Brad Dragicevich (Kalamazoo/Central) started and pitched six innings to earn the win. He allowed 10 hits and struck out two. Junior Elliott Wilcox (Mattawan) retired the side in order in the seventh inning, striking out the last two batters.

In the nightcap, Olivet scored a run in the second inning. Van Son led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Purdy, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a double by sophomore Michael Katlin (Howell).

The Comets added two more runs in the third inning. Shelhart drove in the first run on single, and Van Son plated the second run on a sacrifice fly. Olivet took a 7-0 lead with three unearned runs in the fourth frame. Katlin scored a run after the Kalamazoo catcher tried to pick him off at third base. Back-to-back doubles by Cieslak and Shelhart scored the other two runs.

The Hornets tallied their only run in the sixth. The Comets answered with a run in the bottom of sixth. McIntosh doubled home Cieslak.

At the plate, five different Olivet players had two hits a piece. Cieslak, McIntosh and Shelhart were each credited with a double and single, while Van Son and freshman Cody Goodell (Davison) each had two singles. Cieslak also scored three runs. On the mound, junior Brian Schaeffer (Mason) pitched a complete game, five-hitter. He walked three and struck out five batters.

Olivet's next MIAA series will be against Albion College. The doubleheader at Olivet is Thursday, March 30, and the doubleheader at Albion is Saturday, April 1. Both doubleheaders get under way at 1 p.m.