Baseball team swept by Hope, 5-3 and 9-0

The Olivet College baseball team was swept by Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Hope College in its season finale today in Olivet. The Comets (12-25, 9-19 MIAA) lost by scores of 5-3 and 9-0.

A sacrifice fly scored a run for Hope in the first inning of game one. Olivet matched that run and took a 2-1 lead in its half of the first. Senior Stan Cieslak (Troy/Avondale) reached base on an infield single. He stole second on scored on a single by junior Nick McIntosh (Petoskey). A single by senior Jonathon Van Son (Macomb/H.W. Notre Dame) and walk to freshman Scott Purdy (Traverse City/West) loaded the bases with two outs. Senior Brad O'Bright (North Bay, Ontario/Algonquin) drew a walk to bring home McIntosh from third base.

The Comets added another run in the fourth inning when Cieslak was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a walk and scored on a single by Van Son. The Flying Dutchmen (16-14, 21-7 MIAA) tied the game with two runs in the sixth inning and scored the winning runs in the seventh.

At the plate, Van Son was 3-for-3. McIntosh, O'Bright and juniors Derek Ott (Kawkawlin/ Bay City Western) and Chris Shelhart (Rolling Meadows, Ill./St. Viator) each had a base hit. On the mound, junior Brad Dragicevich (Kalamazoo/Central) pitched the first six innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. Sophomore Ed O'Brien (Stockbridge) was charged with the loss, yielding two runs on four hits in one inning.

In the nightcap, Hope took a 7-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back. The Dutchmen added a pair of runs in the seventh. For the game, Olivet was limited to five hits, including two singles by Shelhart. Senior Will Bolish (Dimondale/Lansing Catholic) suffered the loss on the mound. He could only get two outs in the first inning, giving up seven runs on four hits. In relief, junior Elliot Wilcox (Mattawan) finished the game and surrendered five hits.