Softball team sweeps doubleheader at MIAA-rival Albion, 12-4 and 5-3

The Olivet College softball team swept a doubleheader from Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Albion College this afternoon at Dempsey Field in Albion. In the opener, the Comets belted a season-high 19 hits en route to a 12-4 six-inning mercy rule victory. In the nightcap, Olivet jumped out to a 5-0 lead and hung for a 5-3 win.

In the opener, the Britons (9-19, 1-11 MIAA) took a 1-0 lead with a run in the second inning. Olivet (17-9, 3-7 MIAA) answered with a run in the top half of the third inning to tie the game at 1-1. Albion came back and took a 3-1 lead with a pair of runs in the home half of the third. The Comets' bats woke up in the fourth and fifth innings. In each inning, they sent nine players to the plate and scored five runs. The Britons scored a run in the bottom half of the fifth to make the score 11-4. Olivet pushed across a run in the top half of the sixth inning to push its lead back to eight runs, and the Comet defense held Albion scoreless in the home half of the sixth to end the game early because of the mercy rule.

For the game, every Olivet starter had at least one hit. Senior Anna Braner (Belmond, Iowa/Marshall) went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Junior Jenny Robbins (Fenton) and freshman Mallory Schug (Climax/Galesburg-Augusta) each had three hits. Schug scored three times. Seniors Cassie Bowerman (Quincy), Kacey Darling (Hartford) and Felicia Smith (Spring Lake) finished with two hits apiece. Darling collected four RBI. On the mound, sophomore Katie Harper (Vassar) pitched a complete game, five-hitter, while allowing four runs (three earned) and striking out seven.

In the nightcap, the Comets scored one run in the first, three runs in the second and one run in the third to build a commanding 5-0 lead. Albion scratched across a run in the fourth and two runs in the fifth inning. The Britons brought the tying run to the plate in the sixth, but a strikeout ended the threat. In the seventh, a defensive gem by Braner got the leadoff batter out, followed by a groundout and flyout to seal Olivet's win.

Offensively, senior Kacie Rosecrants (Parma/Western) reached base safely in each of her three plate appearances. She had a pair of singles sandwiched around a walk. Senior Heidi Wear (Hastings/Wayland Union) also tallied two hits, a single and double, and drove in two runs. Five different Comets – Braner, Rosecrants, Wear, Danielle Vespa (St. Clair Shores/Univ. Liggett) and Courtney Osborn (Dorr/Wayland Union) – scored a run. In the circle, freshman Rachel Cook (Traverse City/Central) threw all seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits. She struck out five.

Olivet will play two home doubleheaders this weekend. On Saturday, the Comets host MIAA leader Trine (Ind.) University, and on Sunday, they play non-conference foe Finlandia University. Both doubleheaders start at 1 p.m. On Sunday, Olivet will celebrate "Strikeout Cancer" Day. Both teams will be wearing pink shirts, and fans are also encouraged to wear pink.