Baseball team splits doubleheader with Tri-State

The Olivet College baseball team split a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader with Tri-State (Ind.) University this afternoon in Olivet. The Comets won game one, 2-1, and lost the nightcap, 6-2.

The first game was a pitcher's duel for the first six innings. Tri-State broke the scoreless tie with a run in the top half of the seventh inning. Olivet answered with two runs in the home half of the seventh. Senior Eric Quinn (Port Huron/Northern) singled to leadoff the inning. Sophomore Josh Norlock (Warren/Center Line) came in to run for Quinn. A sacrifice bunt by senior Michael Katlin (Howell) moved Norlock to second base. Junior Rob Swanson (Marshall) singled and advanced Norlock to third base.

Swanson took second base on a wild pitch. An infield single by sophomore Matt Smoker (Bronson) scored Norlock and moved Swanson to third base. After a pitching change, an intentional walk loaded the bases. Freshman Braydon LaFramboise (Flushing/Mt. Morris) stepped to the plate and hit a dribbler between the pitcher's mound and third base, which allowed Swanson to cross home plate the game-winning run.

Seven different Comets each had a base hit. The lone extra base hit was a Katlin double. On the mound, senior David Pembroke (Bay City/John Glenn) started and pitched six and one-third innings. He allowed one earned run on four hits, while striking out four. In relief, LaFramboise earned the win. In the seventh inning, he was able to get the Comets out of a bases loaded, one out jam.

In the nightcap, the Thunder took a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the third inning. They added three more runs in the fifth inning. Olivet made the score, 4-2, with two runs in the bottom half of the fifth. Smoker led off the frame with a double and scored on a RBI-single by junior Brandon Goodman (Portage/Central). Goodman scored on a junior Scott Purdy's (Traverse City/West) single in the right-centerfield gap. Tri-State added two insurance runs in the seventh inning.

Offensively, Goodman was 2-for-4 with a run scored, double and RBI. Four other Comets each had a hit, including a double by Katlin. Senior Ed O'Brien (Stockbridge) was charged with the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits in four and one-third innings of work. Junior Steven Oginsky (New Lothrop) threw in relief. He gave up two runs on two hits and struck out three.

Olivet is back in action tomorrow when it completes the four-game series with Tri-State. Due to poor field conditions in Angola, the doubleheader will be played in Olivet, beginning at noon.