Softball team loses two one-run games at Gene Cusic Classic
In its final day of competition at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., the Olivet College softball team lost two one-games Friday morning at the Cape Coral Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Fla. In their first game, the Comets fell to Bowdoin (Maine) College, 4-3. In the nightcap, Olivet rallied for six runs in the seventh, but it was not enough, as North Park (Ill.) University won, 7-6.
In its final day of competition at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., the Olivet College softball team lost two one-games Friday morning at the Cape Coral Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Fla. In their first game, the Comets fell to Bowdoin (Maine) College, 4-3. In the nightcap, Olivet rallied for six runs in the seventh, but it was not enough, as North Park (Ill.) University won, 7-6.
Bowdoin took a 1-0 lead with a home run by its leadoff batter. The Comets (4-8) took a 2-1 lead with two unearned runs in the third inning. Junior Kacie Rosecrants (Parma/Western) walked to leadoff the inning, and junior Heidi Wear (Hastings/Wayland Union) singled. Following another base hit by junior Beth DeLora (Muskegon/Oakridge) and an out, the Polar Bear shortstop misplayed the ball and allowed both Rosecrants and Wear to score.
Olivet added another run in the fifth inning to make the score, 3-1. DeLora walked and scored on a triple in the right-centerfield gap by junior Kacey Darling (Hartford). Bowdoin knotted the score at 3-3 with a pair of unearned runs in its half of the fifth frame. In the sixth inning, the Polar Bears scored what proved to be the game-winning run. The Comets had the tying run at third base in the top half of the seventh, but failed to bring her home.
At the plate, Olivet collected seven hits, including two each by Darling, DeLora and Wear. The other hit was by sophomore Christine Cameron (Elkhart, Ind./Concord). Freshman Katie Harper (Vassar) went six innings in the circle. She yielded four runs (two earned) on eight hits.
North Park scored one run in the first, two more in the third and four in the fifth to take a 7-0 lead. The Comets sent 11 batters to the plate in the seventh and scored six runs. Junior Katie Fleshner (Grand Blanc/Haslett) started the inning with a single. Singles by Rosecrants and junior Anna Braner (Belmond, Iowa/Marshall) loaded the bases with one out. Freshman Haley Ray (Constantine), who pinch ran for Fleshner, scored when the Viking rightfielder dropped a ball off the bat of Wear. The North Park pitched then threw a wild pitch to score Rosecrants and move Braner and Wear up one base each.
Darling ripped a single into rightfield to score Braner and Wear. Darling took second base on the throw to the plate. DeLora kept the rally going with a single, which advanced Darling to third base. A walk to freshman Ashley Laprise (Constantine) re-loaded the bases with one out. Freshman Courtney Praski (New Lothrop) reached base on an infield single to score Darling. A groundout brought home freshman Morgan Heintz (Eaton Rapids), who was running for DeLora. A foul-out ended the Comets' rally and the game.
Offensively, Darling and Praski each went 3-for-4. Darling collected two RBI. DeLora had two hits in the losing effort. In the circle, DeLora pitched six innings, allowing seven runs (four earned) on six hits.
The Comets return to Michigan and are scheduled to play a doubleheader at Grand Valley State University next Wednesday, March 19, at 3 p.m.