UOlivet splits doubleheader against New England College

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The University of Olivet baseball team split a doubleheader against New England (N.H.) College today at the Ripken Experience and on Crosley Field. In the first game, senior Blake Hawkins hit a two-run walk-off homer to help the Comets rally from a 6-0 deficit to win the game, 7-6. The Pilgrims won the nightcap, 9-1, to salvage the split.

THE BASICS

• Final Scores: Olivet 7, New England 6; New England 9, Olivet 1
• Location: Crosley Field; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
• Records: Olivet 1-8 overall, New England 3-6 overall

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS

• New England sent 12 batters to the plate and scored six runs in the first inning. Junior Tyler Duncan broke up a no-hitter with a solo home run in the third inning. The next inning, senior Brendan Monroe hit a two-run home run. After getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of fifth, the Comets closed the gap to 6-4 when a run scored on a balk in the bottom of the inning.
• Freshman Teegan Glennon struck out the side in the top of seventh. Freshman Hogan McCleary led off with a single. Junior Tyler Hall entered the game to run for McCleary. Hall went to third base when junior Isaac Moore reached first on a throwing error by the third baseman. Junior Owen Smith pinch-ran for Moore. Junior Mikey Kuzara got on base on a fielder's choice, scoring Hall and Smith getting thrown out at third base. After the second out was recorded, Hawkins entered the game as a pinch hitter. On a 2-2 pitch, he hit thew walk-off homer over the left field fence.
• For the game, Olivet had six hits – the three home runs, a double by senior Ethan VanLannen and singles by McCleary and sophomore Jack Friesen. Freshman Carter Peterson gave up the six first-inning runs on five hits and two walks. Sophomore Austin Wittrock threw five scoreless innings of relief, allowing six hits and two walks. Glennon picked-up the win with his perfect seventh inning.

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS

• The Pilgrims took a 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Olivet evened the score in the fourth inning when Friesen blasted a home run over the fence in left center field.
• New England scored eight unanswered runs – two in the fourth, two in the fifth and four in the sixth – to end the game.
• The Comets totaled just four hits in the game. Friesen hit a double and home run. Junior Nate Droste was the losing pitcher after surrendering five runs (three earned) on seven hits over the first four innings.

UP NEXT

• The Comets play a doubleheader against Cairn (Pa.) College tomorrow night, starting at 6 p.m. from Griffith Field.