Baseball team splits doubleheader with Kalamazoo

The Olivet College baseball team split a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader with Kalamazoo College this afternoon in Olivet. The Comets lost the first game, 13-3. With two outs in the seventh inning of the nightcap, senior Nate Rann (Laingsburg) ripped a single to score senior Chris Shelhart (Rolling Meadows, Ill./St. Viator) with the winning run as Olivet edged the Hornets, 4-3.

In the first game, Kalamazoo (4-8, 1-3 MIAA) scored at least two runs in each of the first four innings, while the Comets (9-3, 3-1 MIAA) scored single runs in the first three innings. At the plate, sophomore Cody Goodell (Davison) was three-for-four with two RBI. Seniors B.J. Behnke (Charlotte) and Nick McIntosh (Petoskey) each had two hits. On the mound, junior Matt Emery (Glenco, Ontario/Regina) was charged with the loss. He started and allowed six runs on seven hits in one and two-thirds innings.

After the Hornets took a 1-0 lead with a run in their half of the second inning, Olivet answered with two runs in its half of the second inning. Kalamazoo took a 3-2 lead with a pair of runs in the fourth. The Comets tied the game at 3-3 in the sixth when Goodell hit the first pitch of the inning over the right-centerfield fence.

Olivet scored the game-winning run in the seventh. Shelhart led the inning off with a hit that bounced over the third baseman's head. A sacrifice bunt by senior Derek Ott (Kawkawlin/Bay City Western) and a groundout by McIntosh moved Shelhart to second and third base, respectively. Goodell was intentionally walked to put runners on the corners. The first three pitches to sophomore Scott Purdy (Traverse City/West) were outside and Kalamazoo chose to put him on first with an intentional ball four. Rann stepped to the plate and delivered with his game-winning hit on a 1-2 count.

Eight Olivet starters had a hit. Goodell, Rann, Shelhart and senior Sean Howard (Charlotte/Potterville) led the way with two hits a piece. Sophomore Steve Oginsky (New Lothrop) pitched two and one-third innings of scoreless relief to earn the win. Junior David Pembroke (Bay City/John Glenn) started but did not factor in the decision. Each pitcher allowed three hits.

The Comets return to action Thursday, March 29, when they begin a four-game MIAA series against Albion College. The teams will play a doubleheader at Albion's Frank Joranko Field March 29 and then play a doubleheader in Olivet Saturday, March 31. Thursday's doubleheaders will start at 2 p.m., while Saturday's action begins at 1 p.m.