Baseball team completes season series sweep with two wins at Kalamazoo, 10-6 and 8-1

The Olivet College baseball swept the season series against Kalamazoo College with two wins over the Hornets today at Woodworth Field in Kalamazoo. In the first game, the Comets scored six runs in the seventh inning to pull out a 10-6 come-from-behind victory. Olivet won the second game, 8-1, to extend its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) winning streak to 11 games.

In the first game, Kalamazoo (4-16, 1-11 MIAA) scored a run in the second inning. The Comets grabbed a 3-1 lead with a three-run fourth inning. The Hornets took the lead back with three runs in their half of the fourth, and they stretched the lead to 5-3 with a run in the fifth. After Olivet scored a run in the top half of the sixth, Kalamazoo got that run back and led 6-4 after six innings.

In the top half of the seventh, the Comets (15-8, 11-1 MIAA) sent 11 players to the plate and scored six times to take a 10-6 lead. Six straight batters reached base and scored a run in the inning. The Hornets had two base runners in the bottom half of the seventh, but neither scored.

For the game, senior Rob Swanson (Marshall) went 3-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored. Freshman Tyler Olinske (Negaunee) reached base safely and scored in 3-of-4 plate appearances. He walked in the fourth, hit a single in the sixth and run-scoring double in the seventh. Junior Brad Sullens (Belleville) also had two hits and scored two runs.

On the mound, junior Erik McCloud (Holly) started and went the first five innings. He surrendered five runs on nine hits, while striking out two and not walking a batter. Sophomore Braydon LaFramboise (Flushing/Mt. Morris) threw the final two innings to earn the win. He gave up a run on one hit and struck out two.

In the second game, the Comets scored one run in the first inning, two runs in the second inning and three runs in the third inning, while the Hornets tallied one run in the second. Olivet closed the scoring with a pair of runs in the seventh.

Offensively, Olinske had two of the Comets' four hits. Junior Matt Smoker (Bronson) and sophomore Phil Sullens (Belleville) each had one hit. Swanson had only one official at-bat, as he walked three times. Smoker, Brad Sullens and Swanson scored two runs apiece. On the mound, sophomore Brad Beisiegel (Royal Oak) went the distance and allowed the run on five hits, while striking out six.

Olivet will play Alma College in its next MIAA series. The teams will play a doubleheader in Olivet next Friday, April 17, beginning at 2 p.m. The series then shifts to Alma's Klenk Field for the final two games next Sunday, April 19, starting at 1 p.m.