Baseball team splits doubleheader with Calvin

The Olivet College baseball team split a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader with Calvin College today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. After losing the first game, 9-6, the Comets rallied for three runs in the sixth inning to win the nightcap, 5-3.

The first game was a back-and-fourth battle for the first five innings. The Knights scored a run in the top half of the first, but Olivet answered with a run in its half of the first. Calvin came back with a three-run third inning, and the Comets responded with three runs in the bottom half of the third.

The Knights grabbed the lead back on a two-run home run by Alex Marcus in the fifth. Olivet came right back with a run and left the tying run at third base in the home half of the fifth. After Calvin got three insurance runs in the seventh, Comet junior Scott Purdy (Traverse City/West) cranked a home run over the fence in right field.

Purdy finished the game with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate. He also drove in a pair of runs. Junior Brandon Goodman (Portage/Central) and Ben Kosmalski (Canton/Plymouth) each scored two runs. Sophomore Matt Smoker (Bronson) had two RBI. On the mound, freshman Brad Beisiegel (Royal Oak) was credited with the loss. He went five innings and gave up six runs on 10 hits. In relief, freshman Braydon LaFramboise (Flushing/Mt. Morris) allowed five hits and three runs over two innings.

In the nightcap, Olivet scored a run in the first inning. Calvin grabbed a 3-1 lead with a pair of runs in the second and one run in the third. The Comets made it a one-run game in the fifth and took the lead with a three-run sixth inning. The tying and go-ahead runs were driven in by Goodman. Smoker brought home the third run.

For the game, Purdy reached base in all four of his plate appearances, three times via a single and once via a walk. Smoker also had three hits. Goodman along with junior Ryan Hodges (Swartz Creek) each collected two hits. On the mound, senior Michael Katlin (Howell) started and went four and one-third innings, giving up three runs on six hits, while striking out three. Sophomore Josh Norlock (Warren/Center Line) earned the win. He allowed just one base hit in two and two-thirds innings of relief.

Olivet will host Alma College for a tripleheader of MIAA action tomorrow, beginning at noon. The teams will complete the April 10 suspended game and then play a rescheduled doubleheader.