UOlivet splits with Calvin in MIAA opening doubleheader

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The University of Olivet baseball team started the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) portion of its schedule by splitting a doubleheader at Calvin University. After losing the first game, 5-0, the Comets scored three runs in the eighth inning to win the nightcap, 7-4.

THE BASICS

• Final Scores: Calvin 5, Olivet 0; Olivet 7, Calvin 4
• Location: CU Baseball Field; Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Records: Olivet 5-14 overall, 1-1 MIAA; Calvin 8-10 overall, 1-1 MIAA

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS

• The Knights scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Olivet had its best chance to score in the fifth inning when it loaded the bases with nobody out. Calvin got out of the jam with a double play, including an out at the plate, and strikeout. The Knights carried the momentum in the last half of the fifth frame when they used a leadoff triple and double to plate one run. Calvin ended the scoring with two runs in the seventh.
• For the game, Olivet totaled four hits to nine for the Knights. Recording the hits for the Comets were sophomore Jack Friesen, senior Brendan Monroe, junior Brody Parten and sophomore EJ Suggitt. Junior Nate Droste suffered the pitching loss after allowing the five runs (all earned) on nine hits over six innings.

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS

• Calvin jumped out to a 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and second innings. Olivet scored its first run in the third inning. The first two batters of the inning, Friesen and junior Tyler Duncan reached on singles, and Friesen came around to score on Monroe's single.
• The Knights pushed their lead back to two runs, 3-1, with a run in the home half of the third. Senior Mason Cook led off the fourth with a home run to cut the Comets' deficit to 3-2. Calvin answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning.
• Junior Tyler Hall had an RBI-single to score Friesen in both the fifth and seventh innings to even the score at 4-4. Olivet plated three runs in the eighth inning. Sophomore Austin Alflen drew a one-out walk and came all the way to score on Suggitt's double. A fly out advanced Suggitt to third base. Friesen was intentionally walked to put runners on the corners. After a pitching change, Friesen stole second base. Duncan roped a single into right field to score both runners.
• With only one out recorded in the last of the eighth, the Knights had two runners on base but failed to score because the next two batters struck out. The Comets went down 1-2-3 in the top of ninth before Calvin left one runner stranded in the bottom part of the inning.
• At the plate, Olivet recorded 12 hits. Friesen was 3-for-4 with three singles. He also scored four runs. Cook, Hall and Suggitt each had two hits. Duncan and Hall drove in two runs apiece. Freshman Carter Peterson started on the mound and gave up four runs on six hits over four innings. Sophomore Logan Lewis was the winning pitcher after throwing five scoreless innings of relief, allowing only two hits.

UP NEXT

• The Comets and Knights finish the three-game league series tomorrow with a nine-inning game at the Cutler Athletic Complex, starting at 4 p.m.