Softball team loses two games at NPU Invitational

CHICAGO, Ill. – The Olivet College softball team lost two games at the 2019 North Park University Invitational at the Holmgren Athletic Complex in Chicago, Illinois. The Comets fell to the host Vikings, 5-4, and Simpson (Iowa) College, 4-0.

Final Score: North Park 5, Olivet 4
Location: Holmgren Athletic Complex; Chicago, Ill.
Records: North Park 7-4 overall, Olivet 8-5 overall

• Olivet used a two-out rally to push across three runs in the second inning. Junior Taylor Shellenberger walked and came around to score on junior Jazmin Hildebrand's home run. The third run scored on a wild pitch.
• The Vikings got one run back in the home half of the second.
• The Comets stretched their lead to 4-1 in the sixth inning. Freshman Dayoni Mahlich walked, went to second on a wild pitch, stole third base and scored on senior Andrea Rico's single.
• North Park closed the gap to 4-2 with a run in the bottom half of the sixth.
• The Vikings then walked-off with the win after scoring three runs in their half of the seventh inning.

• Olivet was held to six hits, including two by Rico.
• Mahlich scored two runs.
• Rico started in the circle and allowed two runs on six hits over five and one-third innings.
• Junior Gracie Boyle was charged with the loss after giving up three runs on three hits over the final inning and two-thirds.

• Alyssa Aragon and Ellie Manderfeld each had two hits. One of Aragon's hits was a double.
• Rachael Feazelle drove in two runs.
• Hayley Jackson picked-up the pitching win. She threw all seven innings and gave up four earned runs, while walking eight and striking out seven.

Final Score: Simpson 4, Olivet 0
Location: Holmgren Athletic Complex; Chicago, Illinois.
Records: Simpson 11-6 overall, Olivet 8-6 overall

• The Storm pushed across one run in the third, two runs in the fourth and one run in the fifth.

• The Comets were limited to four hits.
• The lone extra-base hit was a double by Shellenberger.
• In the circle, Boyle lasted just three and one-third innings to be tagged with the loss. She surrendered three runs on seven hits.
• Freshman Danielle Erickson pitched the final three and two-thirds innings in relief. She yielded one run on three hits.

• Kayla Reusche had two of the 10 Simpson hits.
• Eight other players each recorded one hit.
• Ashley Allen hit a double and drove in two runs.
• Emily Bell was the winning pitcher after throwing all seven innings.

• The Comets play in the second day of the tournament tomorrow. After North Park plays Simpson at 11 a.m. CT, the Comets face the Storm at approximately 1 p.m. CT, followed by a game against the Vikings.