Baseball team falls to Oakland, 9-5

The Olivet College baseball team let a late lead slip away against NCAA Division I foe Oakland University, as the Grizzlies rallied for a 9-5 win this afternoon at the OU Baseball Field in Rochester.

The Comets used a two-out rally to score three runs in the first inning. Senior Brandon Goodman (Portage/Portage Central) doubled and scored on a single by senior Scott Purdy (Traverse City/West). Junior Erik McCloud (Holly) then hit a two-run home run over the fence in centerfield.

The Grizzlies answered with two runs in their half of the first and then took a 4-3 lead with a pair of runs in the fourth. Olivet pushed across two runs in the top half of the fifth to take a 5-4 lead. Sophomore Ben Kosmalski (Canton/Plymouth) doubled and scored on a double by Goodman. A flyout moved Goodman to third, followed by a RBI-single by McCloud.

The score remained 5-4 until the bottom of the eighth when Oakland plated five runs. The Comets did not go down quietly in the ninth, as they had two runners left on base.

Olivet was held to just seven hits. Goodman finished with three hits, including two doubles, two runs scored and two stolen bases. McCloud had two hits and drove in three runs. Other base hits were by Kosmalski and Purdy. Purdy and junior Matt Smoker (Bronson) each reached base twice on walks. On the mound, sophomore Sean Alexander (Fenton) was tagged with the loss in relief of starter Nick McCleary (Battle Creek/Harper Creek).

Olivet will resume Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play Friday when it plays the first two games of a weekend series against Adrian College. The doubleheader at Nicolay Field in Adrian will get started at 2 p.m. The teams will then play a twinbill in Olivet Saturday at 1 p.m.