Softball team loses twice at Adrian, 12-9 and 9-2
The Olivet College softball team lost a pair of Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) games today at Adrian College. The Bulldogs rallied to win the opener, 12-9, and won the nightcap, 9-2.
The Olivet College softball team lost a pair of Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) games today at Adrian College. The Bulldogs rallied to win the opener, 12-9, and won the nightcap, 9-2.
In the first game, Olivet scored six runs in the second inning. Senior Felicia Smith (Spring Lake) drove in two runs with a double, freshman Danielle Vespa (St. Clair Shores/Univ. Liggett) hit a two-run home run and senior Heidi Wear (Hastings/Wayland Union) had a two-run single.
Adrian came back and took a 7-6 lead with one run in the fourth and five more in the fifth inning. The Comets grabbed the lead back, 8-7, on another two-run homer by Vespa in the top half of the sixth frame. After the Bulldogs tied the game at 8-8 with a run in the home half of the sixth, Olivet regained the lead, 9-8, in the top half of the seventh. Junior Jenny Robbins (Fenton) led off the inning with a single, stole second base and scored on a double by senior Anna Braner (Belmond, Iowa/Marshall). Adrian scored four runs in its final at-bat for the victory.
Offensively, Braner, Smith and Vespa each had two hits. Sophomore Katie Harper (Vassar) started in the circle and went four innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits. Freshman Rachel Cook (Traverse City/Central) was tagged with the loss, giving up six runs on seven hits.
In the second game, Adrian scored three times in the first inning, two runs in the fifth and one run in the sixth to take a commanding 6-0 lead. Olivet pushed across two runs in the bottom half of the sixth on a two-run double by senior Cassie Bowerman (Quincy). The Bulldogs closed the scoring with a three-run seventh inning.
At the plate, Bowerman went 2-for-2 with two RBI. Six other Comets each had a hit. Cook suffered the pitching loss, allowing eight earned runs on 11 hits.
Olivet will play two conference doubleheaders next week. On Tuesday, the Comets play at Albion College, and on Thursday, they host Alma College. Game time for both twinbills is 3:30 p.m.