Baseball teams wins series against Tri-State with doubleheader sweep, 2-0 and 8-5

Behind complete game pitching performances by juniors Matt Emery (Glenco, Ontario/Regina) and David Pembroke (Bay City/John Glenn), the Olivet College baseball team swept a doubleheader from Tri-State (Ind.) University, 2-0 and 8-5, this afternoon in Olivet. With the sweep, the Comets (13-19, 7-17 MIAA) won three of four games in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) series.

In the first game, Olivet scored a run in the second inning and another run in the third inning. In the second, junior Michael Katlin (Howell) doubled and scored on a double by junior Eric Quinn (Fort Gratiot/Port Huron Northern). In the third, senior Chris Shelhart (Rolling Meadows, Ill./St. Viator) walked, stole second and came around to score on senior Nick McIntosh's (Petoskey) single.

At the plate, the Comets had six hits, as McIntosh led the way with two. Pembroke scattered five hits and allowed only one runner to reach third base. He struck out two and walked two.

In the nightcap, Olivet jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Like the last game, Shelhart walked, stole second and scored on a double by McIntosh. The Thunder (12-22, 9-13 MIAA) tied the game with an unearned run in the third. The Comets answered with three runs in their half of the third. Shelhart and senior Derek Ott (Kawkawlin/Bay City Western) crossed the plate on a double by sophomore Scott Purdy (Traverse City/West). Purdy scored the third run on a single by senior Nate Rann (Laingsburg).

After Tri-State scored two runs in the top half of the fourth inning, Olivet came right back with four runs in the home half of the fourth. Sophomore Rob Swanson (Marshall) scored on a passed ball. McIntosh hit a two-run double to score Ott and Shelhart. Purdy drove home McIntosh. The Thunder closed the scoring with two runs in the seventh.

McIntosh, Purdy and Shelhart each finished with two hits. McIntosh and Purdy tallied two RBI apiece, while Shelhart scored three times. On the mound, Emery gave up the five runs on nine hits.

The Comets will be back in action Tuesday, May 1, when they travel to play a nine-inning game against Eastern Michigan University at 6 p.m. Olivet will end the MIAA portion of its schedule with a four-game series against Hope College Friday and Saturday, May 4-5. Friday's doubleheader will be played in Olivet, beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday's doubleheader will be played at Hope's Buys Athletic Field, starting at 1 p.m.