Baseball team swept by Alma, 4-0 and 6-3

The Olivet College baseball team was swept by Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Alma College, 4-0 and 6-3, this afternoon at Klenk Park in Alma. Despite the losses, Olivet remains in second-place in the MIAA standings with a 13-3 record.

In the first game, the Scots scored twice in the third and fourth innings. Olivet left at least one runner on base each inning, including the bases loaded in the seventh, and were limited to three hits – singles by Tyler Olinske (Negaunee), Scott Purdy (Traverse City/West) and Matt Smoker (Bronson). On the mound, junior Erik McCloud (Holly) threw six innings and gave up four runs (two earned) off four hits. He struck out three and walked three.

In the second game, the Comets jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a run in the first inning. Alma answered with four runs in its half of the second and one more run in the third inning to take a 5-1 lead. Olivet got two runs back in the fifth frame, but it would not get any closer.

For the game, senior Ryan Hodges (Swartz Creek) went 2-for-3 at the dish. He also scored a run. Five other players each had a base hit. Purdy and sophomore Ben Kosmalski (Canton/Plymouth) drove in one run apiece. On the mound, sophomore Brad Beisiegel (Royal Oak) suffered the loss, pitching four innings and allowing five runs (one earned) off six hits. Sophomore Braydon LaFramboise (Flushing/Mt. Morris) tossed two innings of relief and gave up a run off two hits.

The Comets will look to rebound when they play a four-game MIAA series against Albion College. The teams will play a doubleheader at Albion's Frank Joranko Field next Saturday, April 25, and then the series shifts to Olivet on Sunday. Both doubleheaders will get under way at 1 p.m.