Santos’ home run propels softball team to doubleheader split at Saint Mary’s

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Olivet College softball team split a doubleheader with Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) rival Saint Mary's (Ind.) College this afternoon at the SMC Field in Notre Dame, Indiana. In game one, sophomore Ciara Santos (Lansing/Everett) hit a home run to lead off the eighth inning and lift Olivet to a 5-4 win. The Belles bounced back to win the nightcap, 12-0, in five innings.

In game one, Olivet took a 1-0 lead with a run in the second when junior Kelsey Greene (Burr Oak) walked, went to second on a passed ball and scored on a single by sophomore Lindsey Maas (Pinckney). The Comets added to their lead with a single run in the third. Santos walked, advanced to third on a single by freshman Lauren Lenard (Dimondale/ Lansing Catholic) and crossed the plate on a single by freshman Terri Hurosky (Nashville/Maple Valley).

Olivet stretched its lead to 4-0 with two runs in the fourth. A single, walk and single loaded the bases with nobody. After an out at the plate, junior Brooke Coshow (Niles/Brandywine) hit a single to score senior Jenny Robbins (Fenton) to re-load the bases. An infield single by Lenard scored freshman Alyssa Nielsen (Greenville). Two strikeouts ended the Comets' scoring chances.

Saint Mary's scored four times in the fourth to tie the game at 4-4. The game stayed deadlocked until the eighth inning. Santos launched the home run over the fence in centerfield for her fourth homer of the season. The Comets left two other runners stranded on the bases. The Belles had the tying run on base in the bottom half of the inning but three fly outs to Santos in right field ended the game.

For the game, Olivet had 11 hits. Maas went 3-for-4 with three singles. Lenard and Santos each had two hits, while Santos scored two runs. Robbins was officially 0-for-1 but walked four times. In the circle, senior Katie Harper (Vassar) scattered seven hits to earn the complete game victory.

In game two, Saint Mary's scored three runs in the first, five in the third and four in fourth to cause the eight-run mercy rule to be invoked. The Comets had just two hits, singles by Lenard and junior Nicole Wernette (Remus/Chippewa Hills). Junior Rachel Cook (Traverse City/Central) suffered the pitching loss. She started in the circle and lasted only two and two-thirds innings, giving up eight runs (three earned) on nine hits.

The Comets will conclude their season tomorrow when they host Kalamazoo College for Senior Day at the Cutler Athletic Complex. First pitch for game one of the doubleheader is 1 p.m.