Softball team sweeps doubleheader at Calvin in season-finale

The Olivet College softball team swept a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) doubleheader from Calvin College in its season-finale at the Calvin Field in Grand Rapids. The Comets posted a 6-3 win in the first game, which was completed today after being suspended because of rain last Saturday. Olivet took the nightcap, 8-0, which ended after six innings because of the eight-run mercy rule.

Olivet led the opener, 3-0, before the game was suspended in the fourth inning. When play resumed today, Calvin got two runs back in the fifth inning. The Comets added three insurance runs in the top half of the seventh inning. The Knights scored a run in their half of the seventh and brought the tying run to the plate. Olivet got out of the jam with a double play when a base runner was doubled off second base on a line drive out.

For the game, senior Heidi Wear (Hastings/Wayland Union) had two doubles and single, while scoring twice and driving in three runs. Seniors Anna Braner (Belmond, Iowa/Marshall), Kacey Darling (Hartford) and Felicia Smith (Spring Lake) each had two hits. Braner scored three runs. In the circle, sophomore Katie Harper (Vassar) was the winning pitcher. She threw all seven innings, allowing the three earned runs off nine hits, while striking out seven.

In the second game, the Comets pushed across five runs after the first two batters were retired in the first inning. Wear and senior Kacie Rosecrants (Parma/Western) had back-to-back singles. Darling then laced a three-run homer over the fence in rightfield. After Smith walked, freshman Danielle Vespa (St. Clair Shores/Univ. Liggett) hit her team-leading fifth home run of the season. Olivet added an unearned run in the third inning when Vespa ripped a double to score Smith. The Comets closed the scoring with two runs in the sixth inning on RBI singles by senior Cassie Bowerman (Quincy) and Darling.

Olivet finished the game with 10 hits, including three for Wear. Bowerman, Darling and Vespa had two hits apiece. Darling and Vespa recorded four and three RBI, respectively. Freshman Rachel Cook (Traverse City/Central) earned the pitching win, scattering three hits in six innings. She had four strikeouts, did not walk a batter and no batters reached third base.

The Comets end the season with a 23-11 overall record.