Softball team sweeps non-conference doubleheader from Finlandia, 6-2 and 11-5

The Olivet College softball team celebrated "Strikeout Cancer" Day by sweeping a non-conference doubleheader from Finlandia University this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The Comets scored three runs in the first inning of game one and hung on for a 6-3 victory. A six-run fifth inning propelled Olivet to an 11-5 win in the second game.

Seniors Cassie Bowerman (Quincy) and Anna Braner (Belmond, Iowa/Marshall) led off the first game with back-to-back singles. Both came around to score on a triple by senior Heidi Wear (Hastings/Wayland Union). Wear then scored on a double by senior Kacie Rosecrants (Parma/Western).

The Lions made the score 3-2 with two runs in the fifth inning. Olivet responded an inning later with a three-run sixth frame. Freshman Courtney Osborn (Dorr/Wayland Union), who was pinch running for senior Kacey Darling (Hartford), scored the first run on a bases loaded wild pitch. After the bases were reloaded, a groundout off the bat of freshman Nicole Wernette (Remus/Chippewa Hills) scored her identical twin sister, Cortney, who was running for freshman Danielle Vespa (St. Clair Shores/Univ. Liggett). Braner then lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring senior Felicia Smith (Spring Lake). Finlandia went down 1-2-3 in the top half of the seventh.

For the game, Olivet had 10 hits, including two each for Bowerman and Smith. Bowerman had a triple and single, while Smith had a pair of singles. In the circle, sophomore Katie Harper (Vassar) improved to 10-4 on the season with a complete game pitching effort. She gave up the two runs off five hits, while striking out 12.

In the nightcap, the Lions led 1-0 behind a run in the first frame. Olivet tied the game in the third inning when Bowerman singled and scored on a RBI-triple by Braner. After the Comets scored twice in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead, Finlandia pushed across three runs in the top half of the fifth to regain the lead, 4-3.

Olivet took the lead for good with a six-run fifth inning. In the frame, Cortney Wernette came up to the plate with the bases and posted her first official collegiate hit, a bases clearing double. The Comets added two more runs in the sixth, including one driven on a pinch-hit groundout by Osborn.

Olivet finished the game with 12 hits. Bowerman had two singles, Rosecrants had a single and double, Vespa had two doubles and Wear had a triple and single. Vespa and Cortney Wernette each drove in three runs. Bowerman, Darling, Rosecrants and Wear scored two runs apiece. Freshman Rachel Cook (Traverse City/Central) was the winning pitcher.

NOTE: With her two runs scored today, Braner broke Olivet's single-season record. She has now scored 36 runs, and the old record was 35 by Jenn Newland in 2005. Wear (124), Rosecrants (120) and Darling (114) are all closing in on the Comets' career record for hits. The record is 125 by Jill Shufelt from 2002-05.