Softball team splits doubleheader against Tri-State

The Olivet College softball team split a pair of one-run games against Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Tri-State (Ind.) University today in Olivet. In the first game, Tri-State rallied to score three runs in the seventh inning to pull out a 3-2 win. In the nightcap, Olivet scored a run in the second inning for a 1-0 victory.

In the first game, the Comets (14-7, 2-3 MIAA) took a 1-0 lead on a solo home run by sophomore Christina Luna (Charlotte) in the fourth inning. Olivet added another run in the fifth. Senior Shannon Hall (Taylor/Truman) hit a single into rightfield. On the hit, the Tri-State rightfielder misplayed the ball, which allowed Hall to move up to second base. The next batter, sophomore Kacie Rosecrants (Parma/Western), hit a single into leftfield to score Hall.

In the seventh inning, the first two Tri-State players reached base on errors. Back-to-back walks brought in the first run, followed by back-to-back sacrifice flies to score two more runs.

At the plate, Hall finished with two hits for her fifth multi-hit game of the season. In the circle, sophomore Corie Greene (Brown City) was charged with the loss. She pitched a complete game, allowing three unearned runs on two hits.

In the nightcap, the Comets scored the only run of the game with two outs in the second. Junior Amy Cooper (Bath) reached first base on a fielder's choice. Hall singled into the right-centerfield alley, advancing Cooper to second base. A sharply hit single by Rosecrants brought home Cooper.

Olivet had seven hits, including two each by Cooper and sophomore Alisha Ridsdale (Laingsburg). Ridsdale had the only extra base hit, a double. In the circle, senior Danielle Kapral (Lapeer/East) earned the win, pitching six and a third-innings. She gave up four hits, while walking one and striking out one. Greene got the final two outs to earn her first collegiate save.

The Comets return to the field tomorrow when they host Alma College at 1 p.m.