Baseball team loses three games to Alma

The Olivet College baseball team lost three one-run games, 3-2, 3-2 and 2-1, to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Alma College today at Klenk Park in Alma. The first game was completed after being suspended because of darkness April 13. The other two games were make-up contests from a doubleheader, which was postponed the next day.

With the score tied at 2-2 in the sixth inning, the first game was resumed. Alma's leadoff batter in the top half of the sixth inning walked, stole second base, moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a groundout. In their half of the sixth and seventh innings, the Comets left three runners stranded, one in the sixth and two in the seventh.

Offensively, Olivet had six hits. The only extra base hit was a double by senior Chris Shelhart (Rolling Meadows, Ill./ St. Viator). With that double, he breaks Beau Locker's (2001-04) all-time Olivet record of 35. Junior Matt Emery (Glenco, Ontario/Regina) was the losing pitcher.

In the first game of the doubleheader, the Scots scored a run in the first inning. Olivet tied the game at 1-1 with a run in the third inning. Sophomore Rob Swanson (Marshall) doubled down the leftfield line and scored on Shelhart's single up the middle. After Alma regained the lead at 2-1, the Comets forced a 2-2 tie by scoring a run in the top half of the seventh inning. Swanson scored the run after he walked, moved to third on an error and scored when senior Nick McIntosh (Petoskey) lifted a sacrifice fly to rightfield. The Scots took advantage of two Olivet errors to score the winning run in the home half of the seventh.

At the plate, Shelhart, Swanson and senior Elliot Wilcox (Mattawan) each had two hits. On the mound, junior David Pembroke (Bay City/John Glenn) suffered the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits. He struck out two and walked one.

In game two of the twinbill, Alma pushed across a run in the first inning. An error in the second inning allowed the Comets to tie the game in the second. Sophomore Scott Purdy (Traverse City/West) doubled and scored when the Alma third baseman misplayed a batted ball by junior Michael Katlin (Howell). The Scots scored the game-winner in the fourth inning.

Offensively, Purdy had two of Olivet's four hits. Emery was charged with the loss, giving up two runs on three hits in six innings. He recorded five strikeouts and walked two.

The Comets return to the field Thursday and Saturday, April 26 and 28, for a MIAA series against Tri-State (Ind.) University. Thursday's doubleheader will be played in Olivet, beginning at 2 p.m., while Saturday's doubleheader will be played at Tri-State's Jannen Field at 1 p.m.