Softball team sweeps Saint Mary's, 2-1 and 6-4

The Olivet College softball team remained in contention for one of four spots in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) tournament by sweeping a doubleheader from Saint Mary's (Ind.) College today in Olivet. The Comets (20-10, 6-6 MIAA) scored a run in the seventh inning to win game one, 2-1, and won the nightcap, 6-4. Senior Erica Anderson (Casnovia/Kent City) earned both wins in the pitching circle.

In the first game, Olivet scored a run in the first inning as freshman Heather Jones (Trenton) led off the game with a single to centerfield. She moved to third base when the Saint Mary's third baseman threw the ball away on a bunt by freshman Katie Walker (Lansing/Everett). Freshman Danielle Martin (Lansing/Catholic Central) stepped to the plate and delivered a single to score Jones.

The Belles (23-11, 9-5 MIAA) tied the game with a run on back-to-back doubles to start their half of the seventh inning. Olivet tallied the winning run in the bottom half of the seventh. Freshman Christina Luna (Charlotte) started the rally with a single to lead off the frame. Freshman Cassie Bowerman (Quincy) came in as a pinch runner for Luna. Sophomore Jessica Schmansky (Clarkston/Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes) ripped a pinch-hit single, moving Bowerman to second.

Walker loaded the bases with a single to centerfield. On the first pitch to her, Martin laced a single to the right-centerfield gap to score Bowerman with the game-winner.

At the plate, the Comets collected 13 hits, including two each by Luna, Martin and freshman Kacey Darling (Hartford). Luna's and Martin's hits were singles, while Darling had a pair of doubles. In the circle, Anderson allowed the one run on seven hits with one walk and one strikeout.

After Saint Mary's scored a run in the first inning of the nightcap, the Comets pushed across three runs in the third inning. Highlighting the inning was a two-run double by Martin. Olivet added another run in the top half of the fifth inning. However, the Belles tied the game at 4-4 with two runs in their half of the fifth.

The Comets scored what proved to be the game-winner in the sixth and added an insurance run in the seventh. In the sixth, junior Shannon Hall (Taylor/Truman) reached base on an error and scored on a double by Luna. With two outs in the seventh, freshman Alisha Ridsdale (Laingsburg) doubled. Freshman Aryn Perkins (Lansing/Sexton) replaced her on the bases. Junior Katelan Schoen (Climax-Scotts) ripped a double to plate Perkins.

Olivet finished the game with 10 hits. Luna, Schoen and Walker had two a piece. Jones scored two runs, while Martin drove in a pair of runs. In the circle, sophomore Kim Green (Portland) started and pitched three innings. Anderson came in and pitched the final four innings. Each pitcher gave up two runs on four hits. Anderson struck out five batters, including each batter in the fourth inning.

The Comets will wrap-up the regular season next week with three doubleheaders. The first one is Tuesday when they travel to play Kalamazoo College at 3:30 p.m.