Softball team wins two games to finish spring break trip to Gene Cusic Classic with a perfect 12-0 record

The Olivet College softball team won two games today at the Gene Cusic Classic to finish its spring break trip with a perfect 12-0 record. In their first game, the Comets defeated North Park (Ill.) College, 8-0, in five innings and then beat University of Wisc.-Superior, 5-1.

In the first game, Olivet took advantage of a Viking error to score an unearned run in the first inning. Junior Jenny Robbins (Fenton) reached on the error, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by freshman Danielle Vespa (St. Clair Shores/Univ. Liggett).

The Comets tacked on four runs in the second inning. Robbins hit a single to score senior Felicia Smith (Spring Lake), who reached base on an infield single. Senior Anna Braner (Belmond, Iowa/Marshall) laced a single to score senior Heidi Wear (Hastings/Wayland Union). A fielder's choice allowed senior Cassie Bowerman (Quincy) to score from third and Robbins hustled all the way from second to score.

North Park threatened to score a run in the third, but Robbins gunned down a runner trying to score from third base. Olivet added two runs in the fourth. Wear singled down the left field line, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a single by Braner. Braner crossed the plate on a RBI-single by Vespa. The Comets ended the game in the fifth inning. On back-to-back pitches, senior Kacie Rosecrants (Parma/Western) doubled to deep leftfield and scored on a single by freshman Mallory Schug (Climax/Galesburg Augusta).

For the game, Wear was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Braner and Vespa each went 2-for-3 at the dish. Vespa drove in four runs. In the circle, sophomore Katie Harper (Vassar) allowed just four hits and struck out three in five innings of work. She ended her trip to Florida with a perfect 6-0 record and has not walked a batter in 16 innings.

Olivet jumped on Wisc.-Superior for an unearned run in the first inning. Braner singled through the left side of the infield and went to second when Vespa drew a walk. A wild pitch moved both runners up one base. After an out, Rosecrants hit a ball to the third baseman, who bobbled the ball and allowed Braner to score.

The Yellow Jackets got the run back in the top half of the second inning. The Comets took the lead for good with a single run in the third frame. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases. An infield single by Schug allowed freshman Cortney Wernette (Remus/Chippewa Hills) to cross the plate with the go-ahead run.

Olivet sent nine players to the dish and added three insurance runs in the sixth. After Wear doubled to leftfield, Wisc.-Superior changed pitchers. Bowerman sent the first pitch thrown by the relief over the fence in leftfield. The Comets re-loaded the bases and Rosecrants drew a walk to bring home Robbins.

Vespa finished the game with a 2-for-2 performance. Five others each had a base hit. Freshman Rachel Cook (Traverse City/Central) won her sixth straight decision, giving up the run on three hits. She struck out five.

Olivet will open the northern portion of its schedule next Friday, March 20, when it hosts NCAA Division II foe Grand Valley State University. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 3 p.m.