Softball team loses two close games at Gene Cusic Classic

The Olivet College softball team lost two close games today in its second day of competition at Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. In their first game, the Comets fell to College of Wooster (Ohio), 3-1, in eight innings, and in the second inning, they were defeated by Worcester Polytechnic (Mass.) Institute, 4-2.

Wooster jumped out to a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the top half of the second inning. Olivet answered with a run in its half of the second inning. Junior Christine Daub (Hudson) led off the frame with a double down the leftfield line. After a walk, freshman Meghan Case (Vassar) hit a single into centerfield to score Daub.

The Scots pushed across two runs in the eighth. The Comets did not go down quietly in the eighth, as they had runners on second and third with one out. A flyout and strikeout ended their threat.

Olivet was limited to five hits, one each by Case, Daub, sophomore Kelsey Greene (Burr Oak), senior Jenny Robbins (Fenton) and freshman Ciara Santos (Lansing/Everett). Junior Katie Harper (Vassar) went the distance in the circle, allowing three runs (one earned) off seven hits.

Against WPI, the Comets scored their run in the first frame. Sophomore Cortney Wernette (Remus/Chippewa Hills) reached on a slap bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error by the pitcher. She came around to score on a double by Daub. The Engineers scored four unearned runs in the top half of the fifth. Olivet got one run back in the bottom half of the inning. Junior Morgan Iloncaie (Port Huron/Imlay City) hit an infield single, went to second on a groundout and scored on Greene's double to the left-center gap.

For the game, Greene and Wernette had two hits apiece. In the circle, Greene started and threw five one-third innings. She struck out 10, but gave up four unearned runs off five hits. Sophomore Rachel Cook (Traverse City/Central) pitched one and two-third innings of hitless relief.

Tomorrow, Olivet will play Washington (Md.) College at 1 p.m. and Anna Maria (Mass.) College at 3 p.m. Both games will be played at the Lee County Sports Complex.