Baseball team loses twice at Hope, 7-6 and 7-1

The Olivet College baseball team lost two games to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Hope College today at Boeve Stadium in Holland. Hope won by scores of 7-6 and 7-1.

In the opener, Olivet scored a run in the first inning. The Flying Dutchmen took a 6-1 lead with four runs in the second, one in the third and one in the fourth. The Comets sent 10 batters to the dish and rallied to tie the game at 6-6 with a five-run sixth. With two outs in the inning, Olivet had a double, followed by five straight singles to plate the five runs. Hope grabbed the lead back at 7-6 with a run in the bottom half of the sixth, and the Dutchmen sent the Comets down in order in the seventh.

For the game, Olivet out-hit Hope, 12-9. Senior Erik McCloud (Holly) was 3-for-4 with two RBI. Junior Braydon LaFramboise (Flushing/Mt. Morris) had two hits and scored twice. Sophomore Austin Clark (Ossineke/Alpena) was 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI. Senior Matt Smoker (Bronson) also had a double. On the mound, senior Josh Norlock (Warren/Centerline) was charged with the loss after throwing five and one-third innings. He allowed seven runs (five earned), while walking three and striking out three.

In the nightcap, the Dutchmen scored twice in the first inning and once in the third inning. Olivet dented the scoreboard with a run in the fifth to make the score 3-1. Hope put the game away with a four-run sixth inning.

Offensively, the Comets were limited to three hits, including a pair of McCloud singles. Sophomore Aaron Campbell (Lansing/Waverly) threw all six innings, giving up seven runs (six earned) on nine hits. He walked two and struck out four.

Olivet will play Kalamazoo College in a four-game MIAA series later this week. A doubleheader will be played in Olivet Thursday, starting at 2 p.m., and then the teams will play two games in Kalamazoo Saturday at 1 p.m.