Softball team ends season by sweeping doubleheader against Kalamazoo, 8-0 and 12-4

The Olivet College softball team concluded the 2007 season by sweeping a Michigan Intercollegiate doubleheader from Kalamazoo College, 8-0 and 12-4, today in Olivet. Both games ended after five innings because of the eight-run mercy rule.

In the first game, the Comets (20-10, 8-8 MIAA) pushed across seven runs in the second inning and capped off the game with a run in the fifth. Sophomore Kacey Darling (Hartford) led off the second with a double and moved to third on a single by senior Shannon Hall (Taylor/Truman). Sophomore Alisha Ridsdale (Laingsburg) brought home Darling and moved Hall to second. An infield bunt single by sophomore Cassie Bowerman (Quincy) loaded the bases.

Sophomore Anna Braner (Belmond, Iowa/Marshall) hit a single to score Hall and Ridsdale. Sophomore Kacie Rosecrants (Parma/Western) recorded the first out of the inning with a sacrifice bunt to advance Bowerman to third and Braner to second. Sophomore Heidi Wear (Hastings/Wayland Union) delivered with a two-run single into the right-centerfield gap. She stole third base and scored on Hall's second single of the inning.

With two outs in the fifth, Wear hit a double. Junior Amy Cooper (Bath) hit a double over the centerfielder's head, which scored Wear and ended the game.

At the plate, Olivet had 15 hits and every starter had at least one. Wear led the way with three hits, including two doubles. She also drove in two runs and scored two runs. Braner, Darling, Hall and Ridsdale each had two hits. In the circle, sophomore Corie Greene (Brown City) allowed two hits and faced only two more batters than the minimum.

In the nightcap, the Comets took a commanding 8-0 lead with three runs in the first and five more runs in the top half of the third. Kalamazoo took advantage of three Olivet errors to score four unearned runs in the bottom half of the third. The Comets answered by scoring four runs in the fourth.

In the first inning, Cooper, Luna and Wear each drove in a run. In the third, Luna doubled to lead off the frame and scored on a single by Ridsdale. Later in the inning, Bowerman drove home Wear, followed by a two-run double by Braner. Rosecrants also had a RBI hit. Luna led off the fourth with a triple and scored on an errant throw by the Hornet rightfielder. Wear also tripled and scored on Ridsdale's single. Freshman Taryn Johnson (Grand Rapids/Creston) entered the game as a pinch runner and came around to score on a triple by Braner. Rosecrants singled home Braner.

Offensively, the Comets collected 19 hits, including three each by Braner, Luna, Rosecrants and Wear. Rosecrants had three singles, while the other three each had a single, double and triple. Braner collected three RBI, while Ridsdale and Rosecrants had two RBI apiece. Senior Danielle Kapral (Lapeer/East) allowed the four unearned runs on four hits, while striking out five.