Baseball team loses both games of a doubleheader at Eastern Michigan, 7-4 and 4-0

The Olivet College baseball team lost both games of a non-conference doubleheader at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) tonight at Oestrike Stadium in Ypsilanti. After the Comets took a 4-0 lead in game one, the Eagles scored seven unanswered runs for a 7-4 win. EMU won the nightcap, 4-0.

In the opener, Olivet used a two-out second inning rally to score its four runs. Senior Chris Shelhart (Rolling Meadows, Ill./St. Viator) hit a RBI-single to score junior Michael Katlin (Howell), who walked to lead off the inning. On a wild pitch, Shelhart advanced to second and senior Derek Ott (Kawkawlin/ Bay City Western) scored. On a 3-0 count, sophomore Cody Goodell (Davison) hit a two-run home run over the rightfield fence.

The Eagles tallied a run in the bottom half of the second and third innings. EMU took the lead for good, 6-4, with a four-run fifth inning. The Comets left two base runners stranded in the sixth, but could not get a key hit. The Eagles added an insurance run in the bottom half of the sixth.

At the plate, Goodell and Shelhart each had two hits. On the mound, senior Elliott Wilcox (Mattawan) was charged with the loss in relief of starter Brian Schaeffer (Mason). Schaeffer pitched four innings, allowing four runs on five hits. Wilcox yielded two runs in an inning of work. Junior Justin Creager (Grandville) also pitched an inning of relief and allowed a run, while striking out two.

In the second game, the Eagles scored three runs in the third inning and one more run in the fourth. Offensively, the EMU pitchers held Olivet to three hits, including two by Goodell. Shelhart had the other hit. Making his first start of the season, sophomore Steven Oginsky (New Lothrop) suffered the loss, surrendering the four runs on six hits in three innings. Brad Dragicevich (Kalamazoo/ Central), Joshua Norlock (Warren/Center Line) and Ed O'Brien (Stockbridge) each pitched a scoreless and hitless inning of relief.

The Comets will return to the field Friday when they host Hope College in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association doubleheader, beginning at 2 p.m.