Softball team opens season with two wins at Gene Cusic Classic

The Olivet College softball team opened the 2009 season with two wins at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. In their first game, the Comets had 18 hits en route to a 17-1 win over Elms (Mass.) College, and in the second game, they beat Drew (N.J.) University, 14-1. Both games ended after five innings due to the eight-run mercy rule.

Against Elms, Olivet got on the scoreboard with two runs in the top half of the first inning. Junior Jenny Robbins (Fenton) and senior Anna Braner (Belmond, Iowa/Marshall) led off the game with back-to-back singles and came around to score on a fielding error by the Blazers.

After giving up a run in the bottom half of the first, the Comets strung together a double, single, triple and another double to push across four runs in the second inning. Senior Felicia Smith (Spring Lake) doubled and scored on a single by senior Cassie Bowerman (Quincy). Bowerman crossed the plate on a triple by Robbins. A double by Braner scored Robbins. Braner then took third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.

Olivet added four more runs in the third. Driving in runs were Bowerman, Robbins and Braner. The Comets then sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six runs in the fourth. Runs were driven in by Bowerman, Robbins and senior Kacey Darling (Hartford). Olivet closed the scoring with an unearned run in the fifth.

For the game, Robbins was 4-for-4 with four runs scored and four RBI. Bowerman, Braner, Smith and freshman Mallory Schug (Climax/Galesburg Augusta) each had three hits. Bowerman scored three times and drove in three runs. In the circle, sophomore Katie Harper (Vassar) pitched five innings. She allowed an earned run on four hits, while striking out five.

Against Drew, Olivet scored four runs in the bottom half of the first inning to make the score, 4-1. Senior Kacie Rosecrants (Parma/Western) drove in Braner, who walked. A groundout by Schug scored senior Heidi Wear (Hastings/Wayland Union). Smith sent home Darling and Rosecrants with a single through the right-side of the infield.

The Comets then exploded for 10 runs in the third inning. A throwing error allowed the first two runs scored. A fielder's choice allowed the third run to score. Robbins' single brought home a run, and Braner drew a bases-loaded walk to score a run. With two outs, Darling laced a 2-2 pitch into the right-centerfield gap for two-run double. After a single by Rosecrants, back-to-back doubles in the left-center alley by Schug and Smith closed the scoring.

Rosecrants finished the game with three singles and scored three runs. Smith had five RBI. Braner walked two times and scored two runs. In the circle, freshman Rachel Cook (Traverse City/Central) won her first collegiate game. She allowed an unearned run on two hits and struck out two batters.

Olivet continues play in Florida tomorrow with a 9 a.m. game against Rockford (Ill.) College, followed by a game against Wheelock (Mass.) College. Both games will be played at the Lee County Sports Complex.