Softball team swept by Hope, 4-2 and 5-0

The Olivet College softball team was swept by Hope College in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader today in Olivet. The Flying Dutch (8-4, 2-0 MIAA) won by scores of 4-2 and 5-0. The second game was called after five innings because of rain.

In the first game, Hope scored a run in its half of the first inning. The Comets (10-6, 0-2 MIAA) came back with a run in their half of the first. Sophomore Anna Braner (Belmond, Iowa/Marshall) walked to lead off the frame and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Heidi Wear (Hastings/Wayland Union). Sophomore Christina Luna (Charlotte) lined a single to the left-centerfield gap. On the play, the Hope leftfielder misplayed the ball, which allowed Braner to score from third base.

The Flying Dutch took a 4-1 lead with a pair of runs in the third and one run in the fifth. Olivet made the score 4-2 in the sixth inning when Luna hit a single in right-centerfield alley to score Wear.

At the plate, Luna was two-for-three. Wear and sophomore Kacie Rosecrants (Parma/Western) each had a hit. In the circle, sophomore Corie Greene (Brown City) was charged with the loss, allowing four earned runs on 12 hits (11 singles and one triple). She struck out a season-high eight batters and walked nobody.

In the nightcap, Hope scored a single run in the first and four runs in the third. Six different Olivet players each had a hit. The only extra base hit was a double by Luna. Senior Danielle Kapral (Lapeer/East) was credited with the loss. She gave up the five runs on seven hits. Freshman Haley Van Epps (Grand Ledge) pitched a hitless inning of relief.

The Comets return to the field Thursday when they host Rochester College for a non-conference doubleheader at 3 p.m.