Softball team swept by Saint Mary's, 13-7 and 9-1

The Olivet College softball team was swept by Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Saint Mary's (Ind.) College today in Notre Dame, Ind. The Belles came from behind to win the first game, 13-7. Saint Mary's won the nightcap, 9-1, in five innings.

In the first game, the Comets (15-12, 3-8 MIAA) pushed across seven runs in the first inning. Highlighting the inning was a leadoff home run by sophomore Kacie Rosecrants (Parma/Western) and a grand slam home run by sophomore Anna Braner (Belmond, Iowa/Marshall). Sophomore Kacey Darling (Hartford) and senior Shannon Hall (Taylor/Truman) each had a RBI-single in the inning. Saint Mary's made the score 7-5 with two runs in the third and three runs in the fourth. An eight-run sixth inning allowed the Belles to gain the 13-7 victory.

Darling finished the game with a three-for-three performance at the plate. Rosecrants collected two hits. In the circle, freshman Karlie McManaman (Williamston) suffered the loss. She allowed eight runs (five earned) on five hits in one inning. Sophomore Corie Greene (Brown City) started and gave up five runs (three earned) on six hits.

In the first inning of the nightcap, the Belles pushed across two runs after two outs had been recorded. Olivet scored a run in the bottom half of the first. Rosecrants led off the frame with a single. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Heidi Wear (Hastings/Wayland Union). After sophomore Christina Luna (Charlotte) walked, a passed ball advanced both runners to move up one base. A groundout by junior Amy Cooper (Bath) scored Rosecrants.

Saint Mary's tallied four runs in the third and three more runs in the fifth. The game ended five innings because of the eight-run mercy rule.

The Comets were limited to two hits, the leadoff single by Rosecrants and a single in the fifth inning by Braner. Senior Danielle Kapral (Lapeer/East) was tagged with the pitching loss, allowed six runs on five hits in three innings. Freshman Haley Van Epps (Grand Ledge) pitched two innings of relief, yielding three runs on five hits.

Olivet is back in action tomorrow when it travels for a make-up game against Adrian College at 1 p.m. Following that game, the Comets will host Kalamazoo College Wednesday, April 25, for a MIAA doubleheader, starting at 3:30 p.m.