Baseball: Olivet drops two to Calvin in MIAA opening doubleheader

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The University of Olivet baseball team started Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play by losing both games of a doubleheader today at Calvin University. The Knights won by scores of 12-2 and 7-5.

• Final Scores: Calvin 12, Olivet 2 (7), Calvin 7, Olivet 5
• Location: Calvin Baseball Field; Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 6-13 overall, 0-2 MIAA; Calvin 11-9 overall, 2-0 MIAA

• The Knights plated five unearned runs in the bottom of the second inning.
• Calvin added one more run in both the fourth and fifth innings to take a commanding 7-0 lead.
• The Comets dented the scoreboard for the first time in the top of sixth inning when junior Blake Hawkins hit a two-run home run.
• The Knights finished off the run-rule win with a five-run seventh inning.

• Olivet totaled eight hits in the contest.
• Hawkins went 2-for-3, including his home run.
• Senior Matthew Fennell tallied the only extra base hit, a double to lead off the game.
• Senior Keegan Kuha was charged with the pitching loss. He yielded the first seven runs (two earned) on eight hits and five walks over five innings.
• Sophomore Wyatt Leland pitched an inning and two-thirds of relief, allowing five runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks.

• The Knights scored twice in the fourth and sixth innings to go up 4-0.
• The Comets used a two-out rally to plate two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Two runners walked before a sacrifice bunt moved them into scoring position. Another walked loaded the bases. Sophomore Will Myrick was hit by a pitch to bring in the first run and re-load the bases. Sophomore Mikey Kuzara drew a walk to score another run. A groundout ended Olivet's scoring threat.
• Calvin answered with a pair of runs in the seventh to push its lead back to four runs.
• The Comets got two runs back in the last half of the seventh.
• The Knights tacked on their final run in the eighth.
• Olivet filled the bases in the ninth inning. A hit by pitch brought in one run before a foul fly out ended the game.

• Olivet tallied six hits in the game.
• Kuzara was 2-for-3 with two singles.
• Senior Gabriel Kirck hit a double and scored two runs.
• Sophomore Bryan Carney suffered the pitching loss. He gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks over the opening six innings.

• Olivet and Calvin will finish the three-game series tomorrow with a nine-inning game at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m.