Softball team extends win streak to four games with two wins at Gene Cusic Classic

The Olivet College softball team extended its winning streak to four games with two wins today at the Gene Cusic Classic. The Comets won their first game, 7-1, over Rockford (Ill.) College and then beat Wheelock (Mass.) College, 6-0, in their second game.

Against Rockford, Olivet took advantage of a throwing error to score four runs in the first inning. The Comets added another run in the second inning on a leadoff home run by senior Cassie Bowerman (Quincy) and closed the scoring with a two-run sixth inning. The Regents scored their only run in the top half of the seventh inning.

Offensively, Olivet banged out 10 hits, including three by junior Jenny Robbins (Fenton). She also scored two runs and stole two bases. Bowerman finished with two hits. Senior Anna Braner (Belmond, Iowa/Marshall) scored two times, while freshman Mallory Schug (Climax/Galesburg Augusta) was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Senior Felicia Smith (Spring Lake) had a RBI-triple. Sophomore Katie Harper (Vassar) went all seven innings and gave up two hits. She struck out four batters.

Against Wheelock, the Comets scored two runs in the third inning on a two-run single by senior Kacey Darling (Hartford). Olivet added its final four runs in the fourth inning. Freshman Danielle Vespa (St. Clair Shores/Univ. Liggett) doubled, and freshman Courtney Osborn (Dorr/Wayland Union) entered the game to run for her. Osborn scored on a single in the right-center gap by Bowerman. Robbins then ripped a shot into the same gap to advance Bowerman to third base. Braner cleared the bases with a home run over the left field fence.

For the game, Vespa was 3-for-3 with two doubles and a single. Braner and Robbins each had two hits and scored two runs. In the circle, freshman Rachel Cook (Traverse City/Central) had a perfect game through four innings. She allowed two hits, struck out nine and walked only one.

The Comets return to the field tomorrow when they play New Jersey City University at 9 a.m., followed by a game against Worcester Polytechnic (Mass.) Institute. Both games will take place at the Lee County Sports Complex in Fort Myers.