Baseball team defeats Carroll, 8-5

Behind a grand slam home run and five RBI from sophomore Austin Clark (Ossineke/Alpena), the Olivet College baseball defeated Carroll (Wis.) University, 8-5, today at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.

The Comets jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first inning. Senior Erik McCloud (Holly) drove in junior Jimmy Keenan (Charlotte) and later scored on a single by Clark. The Pioneers tied the game with single tallies in the second and third frames.

Olivet then sent 11 batters to the plate and scored five runs in the bottom half of the third. Clark's home run came, and sophomore Jacob Blamer (Newaygo) had a RBI-single in the inning. The Comets scored their final run in the fifth. With nobody out, Carroll pushed across three runs in the eighth inning. A double play and groundout its scoring threat. In the ninth, all three Pioneer batters struck out.

For the game, every Olivet starter had at least one hit, including a 4-for-4 performance from junior Beau Felix (Hartland). Blamer, Clark and senior Matt Smoker (Bronson) each recorded two hits. On the mound, freshman Jay Magro (Bridgman) earned his first collegiate victory. He gave up just two runs off eight hits in five innings. McCloud threw two innings of relief to pick-up the save.

Olivet will take tomorrow off and play Southern Vermont College Wednesday at 2 p.m.