Softball team wins two games at Gene Cusic Classic

The Olivet College softball team won two games today at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Florida. In their first game, the Comets beat Alfred (N.Y.) University, 10-2, and in the second game, they beat Anna Maria (Mass.) College, 8-4. Against Anna Maria, senior Erica Anderson (Casonvia/Kent City) earned the win in the circle and won her 32nd career game to become Olivet's all-time leader.

Against Alfred, Olivet scored three runs in the fourth inning, four in the fifth and three in the sixth. Freshman Danielle Martin (Lansing/Catholic Central) led off the fourth with a home run over the right fielder's head. Later in the frame, the Comets tallied two unearned runs.

In the fifth, Martin and freshman Heidi Wear (Hastings/Wayland) each had a run scoring single. A sacrifice fly by freshman Heather Jones (Trenton) and a wild pitch also scored runs. The sixth-inning runs scored on singles by Jones and freshmen Corie Green (Brown City) and Maurissa Warner (Lansing/Waverly).

For the game, Jones was three-for-three with two RBIs. Martin and Wear had two hits apiece. Martin scored two runs. In the circle, sophomore Kim Green (Portland) tossed four and one-third innings. She allowed one hit and two runs (one earned), while striking out four.

In the win against Anna Maria, Olivet tallied three runs in the third inning, four in the fifth and one in the sixth. In the third, freshman Christina Luna (Charlotte) had a RBI single and two runs scored on a throwing error by the pitcher.

Freshman Kacey Darling (Hartford) hit a triple to lead off the fifth inning and scored on a single by freshman Kacie Rosecrants (Parma/Western). After freshman Alicia Ridsdale (Laingsburg) reached base on a fielder's choice, junior Katelan Schoen (Climax-Scotts) laced a triple to plate Rosecrants and Ridsdale. Schoen scored a wild pitch. The last Comet run scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Heather Hinesman (Hudson) in the sixth.

At the plate, Darling recorded three hits and two runs scored. Schoen had two hits and scored twice. Rosecrants was also credited with a pair of hits. Anderson pitched the first six innings, giving up five hits and four runs (two earned). She struck out eight and walked only one batter. In relief, junior Danielle Kapral (Lapeer/East) tossed the seventh inning.

Olivet plays Emmanuel (Mass.) College tomorrow at 4 p.m., followed by a 6 p.m. game against Eastern Nazarene (Mass.) College.