Baseball team opens MIAA play with doubleheader split at Hope

The Olivet College baseball team opened Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play with a doubleheader split at Hope College today at Boeve Field in Holland. After losing the first game, 5-3, the Comets bounced back to win the nightcap, 5-2.

In the first game, Olivet scored a run in the first frame. Senior Ryan Hodges (Swartz Creek) led off the game with a double, went to second on a groundout to second base and scored on a single by senior Scott Purdy (Traverse City/West). The Flying Dutchmen answered with two runs in the home half of the first inning.

Freshman Jacob Blamer (Newaygo) scored an unearned run for the Comets in the third inning, which tied the game at 2-2. Olivet took a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning when Hodges singled, advanced to third on an error by the Hope pitcher and scored on a wild pitch. The Flying Dutchmen grabbed the lead back with two unearned runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning and added an insurance run in the sixth inning.

For the game, Hodges finished with two hits and two runs scored. On the mound, junior Tyler Kelly (Marshall) was the losing pitcher. He threw six innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on nine hits.

The Comets got off to a fast start in the nightcap, scoring two runs in the first frame. Hodges and junior Erik McCloud (Holly) drew back-to-back walks to start the game. Hodges went to third on a fly ball out. Purdy lined a single to score Hodges and advance McCloud to second. An error by the Hope right fielder allowed McCloud to move up to third, and he scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Matt Smoker (Bronson).

Three straight singles resulted in a run for the Flying Dutchmen in the third inning. Hope tied the game in the fifth inning when Matt VanderVelde hit a solo home run.

Olivet pushed across three runs in the top half of the seventh inning. After back-to-back hits by junior Brad Sullens (Belleville) and sophomore Ben Kosmalski (Canton/Plymouth), sophomore Jimmy Keenan (Charlotte) brought them home with a pinch-hit double. A single by Hodges moved Keenan over to third base, and then McCloud lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Keenan.

At the plate, Kosmalski was 2-for-3. Six other plays had one hit apiece. On the mound, sophomore Sean Alexander (Fenton) picked-up the win. He started the game and gave up the two runs on seven hits in six innings. Sophomore Braydon LaFramboise (Flushing/Mt. Morris) pitched the seventh inning to earn the save.

The two teams will complete the MIAA series tomorrow with a doubleheader tomorrow in Olivet. First pitch for game one is scheduled for noon. Note that the coaches agreed after today's games to move the start time up one hour.