Softball team has 1-1 record in Day 4 of competition at Gene Cusic Classic

The Olivet College softball team had a 1-1 record tonight in the fourth day of competition at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. In the first game, the Comets fell to Clark (Mass.) University, 9-7, and in the second game, they defeated Wilmington (Ohio) College, 2-1. Both games were played under the lights at the Lee County Sports Complex.

After Clark took a 3-0 lead on a three-run home run in the first inning, Olivet scored twice in the bottom half of the first. Freshman Ciara Santos (Lansing/Everett) scored on a wild pitch. Sophomore Kelsey Greene (Burr Oak) crossed the plate on a sac fly by junior Christine Daub (Hudson). The Cougars grabbed a 9-2 lead with two runs in the second, one in the third and three in the fourth. The Comets pushed across four unearned runs in the fourth. Olivet added a run in the bottom half of the seventh and left the bases loaded.

The Comets out-hit Clark, 13-10. Greene went 4-for-4 with three singles and a double. Junior Morgan Iloncaie (Port Huron/Imlay City) had three hits, including two doubles. Sophomore Mallory Schug (Climax/Galesburg-Augusta) collected two hits. In the circle, sophomore Rachel Cook (Traverse City/Central) was the losing pitcher. She threw the first three and one-third innings, allowing eight runs off eight hits. Freshman Breanne Harmon (Quincy) gave up just one run off two hits in three and two-third innings of relief.

Against Wilmington, Olivet scored a run in each of the first two innings and hung for the 2-1 win. In the first inning, Greene hit a two-out double in the left-center gap. She then hustled around the bases to score on a infield single by Daub. In the second inning, freshman Meghan Case (Vassar) reached on a fielder's choice and went to second on a slap bunt single by sophomore Nicole Wernette (Remus/Chippewa Hills). Iloncaie walked to load the bases. Sophomore Cortney Wernette (Remus/Chippewa Hills) then walked to bring home Case.

The Quakers cut their deficit in half with a run in the fifth. They had the tying run at third base in the sixth inning and second base in the seventh inning, but could not bring the runner home either time.

The Comets finished the game with just six hits, including a pair of doubles for Greene. Junior Katie Harper (Vassar) pitched a complete game to earn her second victory of the season. She allowed seven hits, struck out seven and walked one.

Olivet will play two games tomorrow, beginning at 9 a.m. against Wheelock (Mass.) College. The Comets will then play New Jersey City University at approximately 11 a.m.