Softball team takes two from Finlandia, 7-2 and 8-0

Behind complete game pitching performances by freshman Breanne Harmon (Quincy) in game one and junior Katie Harper (Vassar) in game two, the Olivet College softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader from Finlandia University, 7-2 and 8-0, today at the Cutler Athletic Complex.

In the first game, the Comets scored two runs in the first inning. Junior Morgan Iloncaie (Port Huron/Imlay City) led off the inning with a double down the left field line and went to third on a single by junior Christine Daub (Hudson). With one runners on the corners, Daub stole second base without a throw to the base. Freshman Meghan Case (Vassar) then hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring Iloncaie. Sophomore Kelsey Greene (Burr Oak) then hit a single up the middle to plate Daub.

Olivet added to its lead with a five-run second inning. Sophomore Mallory Schug (Climax/Galesburg-Augusta) reached base on an error to start the inning. Sophomore Cortney Wernette (Remus/Chippewa Hills) walked and Iloncaie got on base via an infield single to load the bases. Daub hit a sac fly to score Schug. Case followed with a single through the leftside of the infiled, which scored Wernette and moved Iloncaie to second. Greene then ripped a double to the left-center gap to place Iloncaie and Case. Greene then scored on a RBI-single by freshman Meg Wernowsky (Bellevue). The Lions scored their two runs in the sixth.

For the game, Case and Greene each went 2-for-2 and scored one run. Case drove in two runs, while Greene collected three RBI. Iloncaie and Wernowsky also had two hits apiece. Harmon picked up her first collegiate pitching win, as she allowed just two runs on seven hits. She struck out 12 and did not walk a batter.

In the second game, the Comets sent 11 batters to the plate and pushed across six runs in the second inning. Wernowsky got the inning started with a triple and then scored on a wild pitch. Schug followed with a double and went to third on a passed ball. Freshman Breanna Bunker (Charlotte) walked and then stole second. A slap bunt single by sophomore Nicole Wernette (Remus/Chippewa Hills) scored Schug.

Freshman Tia VanWinkle (Parma/Western) ripped a single to move Nicole Wernette to second and plate Bunker. A wild pitch moved the base runners up one base. After an out was recorded, Daub walked to re-load the bases. A groundout off the bat of Case advanced everyone a base and scored Nicole Wernette. An infield single by Greene plated VanWinke with the fifth run of the inning. An error allowed the sixth run to score.

Olivet tacked on a run in the third inning. Nicole Wernette had another slap bunt hit. She stole second and in the attempt to get her out, the throw by the catcher sailed into centerfield to move up to third base. VanWinkle grounded out, bringing home Nicole Wernette.

The Lions broke up Harper's no-hitter with a hit in the fourth. The Comets pushed across the eighth run in the bottom half of the fifth, which ended the game early because of the eighth-run mercy rule. Nicole Wernette got the rally started by leading off the frame with an infield single, went to second on a wild pitch and Iloancaie's single put runners on the corners with nobody. Daub hit a RBI-single into right field to score Nicole Wernette.

The Comets finished the game with 13 hits, including three for Nicole Wernette. She also scored three times and drove in a run. Daub and Iloncaie each had two hits. VanWinkle collected two RBI. Harper struck out seven and needed only 55 pitches in five innings to earn the win. She faced just two batters more than the minimum and neither runner got into scoring position.

Olivet (12-14) will be off this week, as the student-athletes concentrate on their spring semester final exams. The Comets will take to the field, again, Saturday, April 24, at Kalamazoo College. Game time for the doubleheader is 1 p.m. Next Sunday, Olivet will play a non-conference doubleheader against Rochester College. The games will be played at Oakland University softball field.