Softball team loses to Hope 3-1 and 11-4

HOLLAND, Mich. – The Olivet College softball team lost both games of a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association doubleheader to Hope College today at Wolters Stadium in Holland. The Flying Dutch won the opener, 3-1, on a walk-off home run and then rallied to win the second game, 11-4.

Neither team scored until the bottom half of the fifth when Hope scored a run. Olivet got the run back in top half of the sixth inning. Senior Lauren Lenard (Dimondale/Lansing Catholic) walked, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a groundout off the bat of senior Terri Hurosky (Nashville/Mapley Valley).

The Comets had an opportunity to score more runs but a lineout double play ended the inning. In the home half of the seventh for the Flying Dutch, the leadoff batter reached on an infield single. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a strikeout for the second out, Sammi Adams hit a 3-2 pitch over the fence in left-center field.

Olivet had one hit in the game, a single by senior Alyssa Nielsen (Greenville) to leadoff the second inning. In the circle, freshman Ashlynn Grubb (LaGrange, Ind./Lakeland) allowed only three hits, while striking out six and walking one.

Batting first in the second game, Hope scored a run in its half of the first inning. The Comets answered with four runs in their half of the first. After walks to Lenard and Hurosky, Grubb hit a double to score Lenard and advance Hurosky to third base. Nielsen singled up the middle to plate Hurosky and move Grubb to third.

An error allowed freshman Devon Mayse (Adrian/Madison) to reach base, Grubb to score and Nielsen to second base. Freshman Chantel Johnston (Williamston) hit a single to plate Nielsen.

The Flying Dutch scored single runs in the third and fifth innings before breaking the game wide open with seven runs in the sixth inning. Hope ended the scoring with a run in the seventh.

Olivet finished the game with six hits, with Grubb and Johnston each collecting two. Grubb suffered her second straight pitching loss. She gave up seven earned runs on 12 hits.

The Comets host Calvin College Wednesday afternoon for two games, starting at 3:30 p.m.