Softball team loses twice to Grand Valley, 4-3 and 7-3
The softball team lost two games to NCAA Division II foe Grand Valley State University (GVSU) today in Olivet. A seventh inning rally in the first game came up short as the Lady Comets fell 4-3. In the nightcap, Olivet had an 8-6 advantage in base hits but the Lakers outscored the Comets, 7-3.
The softball team lost two games to NCAA Division II foe Grand Valley State University (GVSU) today in Olivet. A seventh inning rally in the first game came up short as the Lady Comets fell 4-3. In the nightcap, Olivet had an 8-6 advantage in base hits but the Lakers outscored the Comets, 7-3.
In the first game, Olivet (11-9) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning when senior Beth Shunkwiler (Berrien Center/Berrien Springs) ripped a two-run home run over the leftfield fence. She now has six career home runs to tie the Olivet record, which was first set by Jackie Knight from 1998-2001. GVSU (10-14) answered with three runs in the sixth inning and added one more in the top of seventh
Shunkwiler doubled home senior Jill Shufelt (Millington) in the bottom half of the seventh inning. The Comets could not push across the tying run, leaving two runners on base.
At the plate, Shunkwiler was three-for-three with three RBIs. Senior Jenn Newland (Tekonsha) and sophomore Katelan Schoen (Climax-Scotts) had two hits apiece. In the circle, junior Erica Anderson (Casnovia/Kent City) pitched seven innings, allowing eight hits and four earned runs while striking out four GVSU batters.
In the nightcap, the Lakers took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Olivet tallied two runs in the third inning when Shufelt hit a triple to score Newland and a groundout by Anderson to plate Shufelt. GVSU stretched its lead to two runs with a run in the fourth inning. In the bottom half of the fourth frame, Shunkwiler walked with the bases loaded and sophomore Hannah Sterrett (Jackson Northwest) scored. The Lakers quickly answered a three-run fifth inning.
Newland, Shufelt and freshman Jessica Schmansky (Clarkston/Waterford Our Lady of Lakes) each had two hits for the Comets. Freshman Kim Green (Portland) was the hard luck loser, pitching seven strong innings. She gave up six hits, six earned runs and struck out eight batters.
Olivet is idle until Tuesday, April 12, when it hosts Kalamazoo College for a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association doubleheader beginning at 3:30 p.m.