Softball team swept by Alma, 11-5 and 5-1, in MIAA doubleheader

The Olivet College softball team was swept by Alma College in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The Scots came from behind to win the opener, 11-5, and won the nightcap, 5-1.

In the opener, Alma scored a run in the top half of the third inning. Olivet answered with a run in its half of the third when senior Kacey Darling (Hartford) drove in senior Anna Braner (Belmond, Iowa/Marshall). After two outs were recorded, the Comets pushed across four runs in the fifth inning.

Braner ignited the rally with a home run. After back-to-back walks to senior Heidi Wear (Hastings/Wayland Union) and Darling, senior Kacie Rosecrants (Parma/Western) ripped a double to the left-center gap, scoring Wear and advancing Darling to third.

Senior Felicia Smith (Spring Lake) was intentionally walked to load the bases. Freshman Mallory Schug (Climax/Galesburg-Augusta) sent the first pitch she saw into shallow centerfield, which allowed Darling and Wear to score. The Scots took advantage of two Olivet errors to score eight runs, two earned, in the top half of the sixth inning. They closed the scoring with two runs in the seventh.

Offensively, the Comets had 12 hits. Braner, Darling, Smith and Wear each went 2-for-3 at the dish and reached base safely three times. Braner scored twice. In the circle, sophomore Katie Harper (Vassar) was the losing pitcher, allowing 11 runs (four earned) off 12 hits. She struck out five.

In the nightcap, the bottom three batters in the lineup helped the Scots score four runs in the fourth frame. Olivet got run back and brought the tying run to the plate in the top half of the sixth inning. Freshman Courtney Osborn (Dorr/Wayland Union), who pinch ran for Smith, scored the run on a RBI-double by senior Cassie Bowerman (Quincy). Alma got the run back on a leadoff home run in the bottom half of the sixth.

The Comets were limited to four hits, two apiece for Bowerman and Braner In the circle, freshman Rachel Cook.

Olivet is back in action next Monday, April 13, when it travels to play a non-conference doubleheader at Huntington (Ind.) University. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.