Softball team splits doubleheader at Kalamazoo in contrasting styles

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Playing its fourth doubleheader in four days, the Olivet College softball team split two games in contrasting style against Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Kalamazoo College today at the K College Softball Field. The teams combined for nine hits in the opener, with the Hornets winning it 2-1. In the nightcap, the teams totaled 29 hits, with freshman Erin Scanlon hitting a walk-off home run to lead the Comets to 9-8 win in eight innings.

THE BASICS
Final Scores: Kalamazoo 2, Olivet 1; Olivet 9, Kalamazoo 8 (8)
Location: K College Softball Field; Kalamazoo, Mich.
Records: Kalamazoo 9-21 overall, 1-11 MIAA; Olivet 18-14 overall, 5-9 MIAA

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE)

• The Hornets scored a run in each of the first two innings to take a 2-0 lead.
• The Comets had two runners on base in the fourth inning before Kalamazoo turned a triple play to end the inning.
• Olivet broke up the shutout in the seventh inning when senior Konnor Geiger hit a solo home run. The Comets left the tying run stranded on base.

FOR THE COMETS

• Geiger, sophomore Kinslea Blouin and junior Andrea Rico each had a hit.
• Geiger's hit was the aforementioned homer, Blouin had a double in the fourth inning and Rico hit a single to lead off the game.
• Rico was the losing pitcher in the circle. She gave up the two runs on six hits over four innings.
• Sophomore Gracie Boyle pitched two hitless innings of relief.

FOR THE HORNETS

• Andrea MacMichael was 2-for-3 with a double and single.
• Four other players notched one hit apiece.
• Sammi Luzadre went the distance in the circle for the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME TWO)

• The Comets sent all nine batters to the plate and scored five runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Geiger and freshman Kayla Blett each had an RBI-single, junior Danielle McCoy hit a two-run single, and Scanlon roped an RBI-double.
• Kalamazoo got a pair of runs back in the top half of the second inning.
• Olivet had a two-out rally to score three runs in its half of the second. Blouin lined a double and came around to score on Geiger's base hit. Blett then rocketed a 2-1 pitch over the fence in left field for her first collegiate home run.
• The Hornets answered with a six-run fourth inning to even the score at 8-8.
• The Comets put two runners on base in the fifth inning but could not push across any runs.
• Neither team scored in the sixth and seventh innings to send the game to extra innings.
• Kalamazoo left two runners stranded in the top half of the eighth inning.
• Leading off Olivet's half of the eighth, Scanlon deposited the first pitch over the fence for the walk-off winner.

FOR THE COMETS

• Five players had multi-hit games.
• Scanlon was 3-for-4 with a home run, double and single. She also collected two RBI.
• Blouin and McCoy each recorded a double and single, while McCoy also drove in a pair of runs.
• Blett and Geiger tallied two singles apiece.
• Blett finished with three RBI, and Geiger had two RBI.
• Blett and Blouin scored two runs apiece.
• Boyle started in the circle and surrendered eight runs (seven earned) on 11 hits over three and two-thirds innings.
• Sophomore Taylor Shellenberger picked-up the pitching win. She tossed four and one-third innings of scoreless relief.

FOR THE HORNETS

• MacMichael registered three hits and three RBI.
• Fiona Summers and Nina Szalkiewicz each had three hits.
• McManus gave up all eight runs on 10 hits in an inning and two-thirds.
• Luzadre tossed the final five and one-third innings in relief to be charged with the loss. She gave up the one run on four hits, while striking out six.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• With her home run in game one, Geiger has moved into a tie for second all-time at Olivet with 11 home runs. The three RBI in the doubleheader gives her 57 in her career, which is tied for seventh all-time.
• In the first game, sophomore Courtney Willson stole her 15th base this season. That total is the fourth-most in school history for a season, and the most by an Olivet player since 2009 when Anna Braner swiped 18 bases.
• Rico had a hit in both games to extend her hitting streak to 11 games.
• Olivet's 14 hits in game two were the most in a MIAA game this season

UP NEXT

• Olivet closes out the 2018 season Friday afternoon when it hosts Calvin College for a Senior Day doubleheader, starting at 3:30 p.m.