Baseball: Olivet defeats Alma, 9-6

ALMA, Mich. – The University of Olivet baseball team started a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) weekend series against Alma College by defeating the Scots, 9-6, this afternoon at Klenk Park.

• Final Score: Olivet 9, Alma 6
• Location: Klenk Park; Alma, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 8-22 overall, 2-11 MIAA; Alma 17-12 overall, 7-4 MIAA

• Olivet scored its first run in the top of the first when sophomore Braden Abbott hit an RBI-single to score senior Gabriel Kirck, who reached on a two-out double.
• The Scots answered with a run in their half of the first inning.
• The Comets batted through their lineup and pushed across five runs in the fifth inning. With the bases full, sophomore Nate Droste and Kirck hit back-to-back two-run singles to the right-center field gap. Freshman Jack Friesen added an RBI-single later in the inning.
• Alma closed the gap to 6-5 with four runs in the seventh inning.
• In the top of the eighth, Olivet used two walks and an error to load the bases. Senior Matthew Fennell cleared them with a single to the left-center alley.
• In the bottom of the ninth, the Scots scored one run and brought the tying run to the plate. Two straight outs at third base ended the game.

• Olivet recorded nine hits.
• Droste and Kirck were both 2-for-5 with two RBI.
• Kirck and freshman Austin Alflen scored two runs apiece.
• Senior Keegan Kuha earned the pitching win. He gave up five runs on five hits and six walks, while striking out seven over six and one-third innings.
• Sophomore Charlie Quilliam tossed two innings of relief, allowing one run on two hits.
• Junior Wyatt Leland tallied the final two outs to pick-up the save.

• The Comets and Scots finish the series with a doubleheader Sunday at the Cutler Athletic Complex, beginning at 1 p.m.