Baseball team ends season with two losses against Trine

The Olivet College baseball team ended the 2010 season with two losses against Trine (Ind.) University today at the Cutler Athletic Complex. The Thunder won the first game, 14-7, and then scored four runs in the sixth inning to win the nightcap, 7-3.

In the opener, Trine scored three runs, one earned, in the first inning and added two runs in the second to take a 5-0 lead. Olivet got one back in the home half of the second and fourth innings. The Thunder stretched their lead to 10-2 with a five-run fifth. The Comets cut into their deficit with two runs in the bottom half of the fifth. Trine put the game out of reach with four runs in the sixth. Olivet scored three times in the seventh.

The Comets finished the game with 13 hits. Senior Brad Sullens (Belleville) went 4-for-4 with four singles and three runs scored. Sophomore Jacob Blamer (Newaygo) and junior Beau Felix (Hartland) were each 2-for-3. Blamer also drove in two runs. Freshman Ryan Pitt (Imlay City) was the losing pitcher, as he gave up nine runs on nine hits in four innings. Sophomore Tyler Olinske (Negaunee) allowed five runs on four hits in two innings of relief, and sophomore Ben Steffler (Lapeer/West) tossed a scoreless inning of relief.

In the second game, the Thunder took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run home run. Olivet tied the game at 2-2 in the third inning when Pitt hit a bases loaded double. On his hit, the umpire ruled the third runner out for interfering with the play at the plate. After the Thunder took a 3-2 lead with a run in the top half of the fifth, the Comets plated a run in the bottom half of the inning to level the score at 3-3. Trine then sent eight batters to the dish and scored four times in the sixth.

For the game, senior Erik McCloud (Holly) was 3-for-3. Five other players each had a hit. Extra base hits were doubles by Pitt and junior Jimmy Keenan (Charlotte). Making his final collegiate start on the mound, senior Josh Norlock (Warren/Centerline) did factor in the decision. He surrendered three runs on seven hits in four innings, while striking out three and not walking a batter. Junior Braydon LaFramboise (Flushing/Mt. Morris) allowed the go-ahead run to suffer the loss.

Olivet finishes the season with a 10-30 overall record and clinches at least a share of sixth-place in the league standings with an 8-20 record.

NOTES: McCloud broke the Olivet single-season batting average (57-for-131=.435) record. The previous record was .431 by Tim Metro in 1974 and Beau Locker in 2003. Earlier in the season, he set a school record with a 20-game hitting streak. McCloud also had at least one hit in 38-of-40 games played.