Baseball team sweeps doubleheader from Kalamazoo, 7-1 and 22-4

The Olivet College baseball team swept a doubleheader from Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Kalamazoo College, 7-1 and 22-4, this afternoon in Olivet. With the weekend series sweep, the Fighting Comets (16-16, 8-4 MIAA) stand in third-place in the MIAA standings, one game behind co-leaders Adrian and Albion colleges.

After scoring single runs in the second and third innings of the first game, Olivet erupted for five runs in the fourth. In the inning, senior Beau Locker (Coldwater/Union City High School) and junior Chris Stambek (Decatur High School) each drove in a run and senior Joe Richards (Galesburg Augusta High School) drove in two runs.

In the game, the Comets banged out 10 hits with each starter collecting at least one apiece. Junior Ben Thomas (Kalamazoo Comstock High School) had two hits. On the mound, senior Josh Kellogg (Morley Stanwood High School) pitched a complete game seven hitter. He allowed an unearned run while striking out 12.

In the nightcap, 26 different Olivet players saw action in the game. Kalamazoo scored a run in the first inning, and the Comets responded with four runs in their half of the inning. They added two runs in the second, nine runs in the third, two in the fourth and five in the fifth. All nine runs in the third inning came after two outs had been recorded.

Offensively, Olivet rippled 15 base hits, and drew 13 walks from the Hornet pitching staff. Senior Ricky Strain (Livonia Churchill High School) collected three hits. Richards scored three runs without making an official plate appearance. Freshman Nick Saviano, Jr. (Niles High School) hit a three-run home run, and freshman Bo Ford (Warren/Redford Mott High School) banged a two-run homer to close out the scoring. Sophomore Jason Rooley (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario/Korah) also had three RBIs.

Freshman Zach Langford (Marshall High School) tossed five innings, scattering four hits, to earn the victory. In relief, junior Dustin Bolt (St. Joseph High School) and freshman Brad Dragicevich (Kalamazoo Central High School) pitched an inning apiece.

Olivet will next play a doubleheader at home against Manchester (Ind.) College on Tuesday, April 27 at 2 p.m.