Baseball team sweeps home MIAA doubleheader against Trine, 5-4 and 13-7

The Olivet College baseball team swept a home Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader from Trine (Ind.) University this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. Olivet (9-7, 5-1 MIAA) rallied to win the first game, 5-4, on a walk-off hit by senior Brandon Goodman (Portage/Portage Central). The Comets also came from behind in the nightcap, winning by a 13-7 score.

In the first game, the Thunder (6-11, 2-4 MIAA) took a 4-0 lead on a pair of home runs in the first inning. Olivet got one run back in the home half of the first inning. The Comets added another run in the fourth inning when junior Brad Sullens (Belleville) drove in junior Matt Smoker (Bronson), who reached base on an error. In the fifth frame, Olivet tied the game at 4-4 on a two-run single by senior Scott Purdy (Traverse City/West).

The Comets scored the game-winning run in the seventh. Senior Ryan Hodges (Swartz Creek) singled and went to second on a groundout. Goodman stepped to the plate and hit a 1-0 pitch through the left-side of the infield to score Hodges.

Offensively, each team had eight hits. Hodges was 2-for-3 and scored three runs. Goodman also had a pair of hits. After a rough first inning on the mound, junior Tyler Kelly (Marshall) settled down, allowing just three hits over the final six frames, to earn the victory.

In the nightcap, the Thunder scored a run in the first and third innings to take a 2-0 lead. Olivet knotted the score at 2-2 with two runs in the bottom half of the third inning. Trine grabbed the lead back at 6-2 with a four-run fourth inning. The Comets answered with five runs in their half of the fourth.

After the Thunder tied the game at 7-7 with a run in the fifth, Olivet took the lead back for good with a four-run fifth. The Comets added two runs in the sixth, including one on a leadoff home run by Purdy.

The bottom three batters in the Olivet lineup combined to go 4-for-7 at the plate. Senior Rob Swanson (Marshall) went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and two RBI. Sophomore Phillip Sullens (Belleville) had just one hit, but scored two times and drove in three runs. Junior Erik McCloud (Holly) collected two hits and four RBI.

On the mound, sophomore Sean Alexander (Fenton) started and went three and two-thirds innings, giving up five runs on seven hits. Sophomore Braydon LaFramboise (Flushing/Mt. Morris) was credited with the win. He pitched the final three innings and allowed just one hit.

Trine and Olivet will complete their four-game series with a doubleheader Saturday at Trine's Jannen Field. First pitch for game one is scheduled at 1 p.m.