Softball team splits doubleheader with Adrian

The Olivet College softball team split a doubleheader with Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Adrian College this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. Olivet scored two runs in the bottom half of the 10th inning to win the first game, 6-5, and Adrian won the second game, 10-2.

In game one, the Bulldogs scored two runs in the top half of the third inning. The Comets got one run back in the home half of the third. Sophomore Mallory Schug (Climax/Galesburg-Augusta) was hit by a pitch and went to a second on a single by sophomore Kelsey Greene (Burr Oak). Freshman Meg Wernowsky (Bellevue) walked to load the bases. Freshman Ciara Santos (Lansing/Everett) stepped to the plate and hit a single through the left-side of the infield to score Schug.

Olivet took a 3-2 lead with a pair of runs in the fifth. Junior Christine Daub (Hudson) got on base via a catcher's interference. Like in the third inning, Greene hit a single and Wernowsky walked to load the bases. On a batted by Santos, the Adrian third baseman threw the ball home for the force out, but the catcher the dropped ball, and Daub was safe at the plate. Senior Jenny Robbins (Fenton) then hit a single to deep leftfield, scoring Greene.

Adrian rallied to tie the game at 3-3 with a run in the seventh inning. After there was no scoring in the eighth, the Bulldogs scored a run in the top half of the ninth. The Comets leveled the score at 4-4 with a run in their half of the ninth. Daub and Greene led off the inning with back-to-back singles. On Greene's hit, Daub hustled to third base. After a strikeout, Santos hit a single into leftfield to score Daub.

In the 10th, Adrian scored the go-ahead run. After the RBI-hit, the Bulldogs had a chance for more runs with runners on second and third. Olivet brought in Greene to pitch, and the first pitch she threw, the batter got out on a pop out in foul territory.

Due to the international tiebreaker, sophomore Cortney Wernette (Remus/Chippewa Hills) was placed on second to start the Comets' half of the 10th inning. Freshman Lindsey Maas (Pinckney) executed her bunt to advance Wernette to third. On a 0-2 count, Schug laced a hit to score Wernette. After the second out was recorded, Daub sent a 0-1 pitch to deep centerfield, plating Schug all the way from first with the game-winning run.

Olivet finished the game with 12 hits. Greene was 3-for-5. Santos collected two hits and two RBI. Daub and Schug each went 2-for-4 and scored twice. On the mound, junior Katie Harper (Vassar) started and threw nine and two-third innings but had to settle for a no-decision. Greene was the winning pitcher.

In game two, the Comets scored twice in the top half of the first inning. The Bulldogs responded with eight unearned runs in the bottom half of the first. Adrian added single tallies in the third and fourth innings to make the score 10-2 and end the game early because of the eight-run mercy rule.

Olivet had just four hits, all singles by four different players. Wernowsky had one RBI, while Greene and junior Morgan Iloncaie (Port Huron/Imlay City) each scored a run. In the circle, Greene suffered the loss, allowing eight unearned runs on seven hits in one inning. In relief, freshman Breanne Harmon (Quincy) threw three innings in relief. She gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits, while striking out two.

The Comets will be right back in action tomorrow at Trine (Ind.) University First pitch of game one for the doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m.