Softball: Olivet loses twice at Bluffton

BLUFFTON, Ohio – The University of Olivet softball team was swept in a doubleheader at Bluffton (Ohio) University, 10-5 and 6-1, today at Bluffton Field.

• Final Scores: Bluffton 10, Olivet 5; Bluffton 6, Olivet 1
• Location: Bluffton Field; Bluffton, Ohio
• Records: Olivet 1-7 overall, Bluffton 6-14 overall

• The Comets grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Freshman Kaitlyn Witkowski led off the game with a triple and came around to score when senior Meredith Morell poked a single through the right-side of the infield. Morell stole second base, went to third on a groundout and scored on an error by the Beaver first baseman.
• Bluffton answered with three runs in their half of the first, four runs in the second and one run in the fourth to go up 8-2.
• Olivet scored one run in both the fifth and sixth innings.
• The Beavers capped their scoring with a pair of runs in the last half of the sixth inning.
• The Comets plated an unearned run in the top of the seventh.

• Olivet recorded 11 hits.
• At the plate, Morell was 3-for-4 with three singles.
• Witkowski as well as sophomores Mattie Akom and Corina Hernandez each had two hits.
• Both of Witkowski's hits went for extra bases, a triple and a double.
• Freshman Michelle Michelin started in the circle and was tagged with the loss. She gave up seven runs (five earned) on three hits and three walks over an inning and two-thirds.
• Freshman Briana Gitchell tossed three and one-third innings of relief, allowing one run on four hits.

• The Beavers took advantage of two Comet errors to push across two unearned runs in the first inning.
• After Olivet left two runners stranded on base in the top of fifth, Bluffton added to its lead with two more runs in the last half of the inning.
• The Beavers closed the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
• The Comets used a two-out hit to break up the shutout in the seventh inning. Olivet loaded the bases before a groundout ended the game.

• Olivet was limited to six hits.
• Witkowski tallied two more hits to raise her season batting average to .348.
• Freshman Olivia Burt hit a double.
• Michelin and freshman Autumn Wallington each had one single.
• Sophomore Izzy Abalos threw five and two-thirds innings. She yielded six runs (three earned) on seven hits and one walk.

• Olivet returns to the diamond next Tuesday, April 2, at Manchester (Ind.) University for a doubleheader, beginning at 3 p.m.